0 


if .  Jocelyii. 


I        -J 


^:E^.   EilLISIHA    MlT^MIEILILi,  l])=]n) 


Processor  of  chemistrt,  mlneralog^ .and    geoi.ogt, 

IS     THE    XrsiVEKSTTT   Or  SORTH    CAUOXIXA . 


<^' 


.ue'.      ±Oi'      tile     PliilfUiflironTr-    Societr   ul    tl)  e   TTiivecsxt^r. 


A  MEMOIR 


OF    THE 


KEY.  ELISHA  MITCHELL,  D.  I). 


LATE  PKOFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY,  MINERALOGY  &  GEOLOGY 
IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA  : 


TOGETHER  WITH 

THE  TRIBUTES  OF  RESPECT  TO   HIS  MEMORY,  BY  VARIOUS 
PUBLIC  MEETINGS  AND  LITERARY  ASSOCIATIONS, 

AND 

THE  ADDRESSES  DELIVERED 

AT  THE  RE-INTERMENT  OF  HIS  REMAINS, 

BY 

ET.  EEY.  JAMES  H.  OTEY,  D.  D., 

BISHOP   OF   TENNESSEE, 
AND 

HOE".  DAYID  L.  SWAm,  LL.  D., 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 


CHAPEL  HILL : 
PUBLISHED  BY  J.  M.  HENDERSON, 

PEINXER  TO  THE  UNIVERSITT, 

1858. 


COMMITTEE    OF    PUBLICATION  : 

PROFESSORS  HUBBARD,    SHIPP   AND   WHEAT. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

MEMOIR,  BY  PROFESSOR  C.  PHILLIPS,        -----    5 

SEARCH  FOR  PROFESSOR  MITCHELL'S  BODY,      -        -        -       13 

FUNERAL  SERMON  BY  DR.  CHAPMAN, 20 

PUBLIC  MEETINGS: 

Meeting  at  Asheville  ; 
"         "  Chapel  Hill  ; 
"         "  Fatetteville  ; 

"  "   GrEENSBO  ROUGH  ; 

"        "  AVilmington;        .----■-         26—34 
TESTIMONIALS  OF  RESPECT  :— 

Resolutions  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University: 

"  OF  the  Faculty  ; 

"  of  the  Students  ; 

"  of  the  Dialectic  Society  ; 

*'  of  the  Philanthropic  Society  ; 

"  OF  THE  Trustees  of  Davidson  College  ; 

"  OF  THE  Faculty  of  Davidson  College  ; 

"  OF  THE  Commissioners  of  Chapel  Hill  ; 

Minute  of  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  ; 

*'       OF  THE  Synod  of  North  Carolina,  -        -        -    35 — 44 

THE  RE-INTERMENT  :— 

Proposed  Monument  ; 

Proceedings  of  the  16th  of  June — Mr.  Battle's  Letter  ; 

Mount  Mitchell,  a  Poem, 45     53 

BISHOP  OTEY'S  FUNERAL  ORATION, 55 

Advertisement  ; 
PRESIDENT  SWAIN'S  ADDRESS, ^5— 88 


MEMOIR. 


BY  PROFESSOR  CHARLES  PHILLIPS. 


ELISHA  MITCHELL^  D.  B.,  Professor  of  Chemistry,    Mineralogy,  ami 
Geology  iu  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  was  born  in  Washington, 
Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1793.     He  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Abxer  Mitchell,  a  respectable  farmer  of  that  town- 
ship, whose  wife,  Piicebe  Eliot,  was  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation 
of  Joiix  Eliot,  the  celebrated  "  Apostle  to  the  Indians."     Dr.  Mitchell 
wa.x  thus  a  member  of  a  family  now  very  widely  spread  over  the  United 
States,  and  reckoning  many  who  have  exercised  much  influence  in  Com- 
merce, Politics,  Science,  and  Religion.     He  possessed  many  of  the  charac- 
teristics which  marked  the  Eliots,  especially  of  the  earlier  generations. 
The  Rev.  Jared  Eliot,  M.  D.  and  D.  D.,  minister  for  many  years  at  Kil- 
lingworth,  Connecticut,  was  Dr.  Mitchell's  great-grandfather.     He  wavS 
distinguished  in    his  own  times  for   his  knowledge  of  History,  Natural 
Philosophy,  Botany,  and  Mineralogy,  while  as  a  theologian  he  was  sound 
in  the  faith  and  delighted  in  the  doctrines  of  Gospel  Grace.     Among  his 
ctjrrespondents  were  Dr.  Franklix  and  Bishop  Berkeley,  and  in  1762  he 
was  honored  by  the  Royal  Society  of  London  with  a  gold  medal  for  a 
valuable  discovery  in  the  manufacture  of  Iron.     This  ancestor  Dr.  Mit- 
chell closely  resembled  in  many  peculiarities  of  body  and  soul.     Both 
were  men  of  large  stature,  of  great  bodily  strength,  of  untiring  activity^ 
of  restless  curiosity,  of  varied  and  extensive  attainments,  of  a  quaint  and 
cjuiet  humor,  of  persevering  generosity,  and  of  a  well  established  piety. 
This  desire  for  excellence  in  things  pertaining  to  the  mind  was  a  pronii^ 
nent  feature  in  Br.  Mitchell's  character  from  early  childhood.     When 
only  four  years  old  he  acted  a  spirited  part  in  an  exhibition  of  the  school 
he  then  attended,  greatly  to  his  own  satisfaction,  and  to  the  delight  of  hin 
friends.     As  he  grew  older,  he  was  never  so  well  pleased  as  when  his 
playmates  would  gather  around  him  to  hear  him  tell  what  he  had  read  iu 
his  books,  and  explain  the  pictures  they  contained.     His  preparation  for 

college  was  completed  by  the  Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.  D.,  who  maintained 
9 


for  many  years  a  classical  school  at  Bethlem  in  Litchfield  County,  and 
was  afterwards  the  first  President  of  Hamilton  College  in  New  York.  Dr. 
Backus  was  famous  in  his  day  for  skill  in  training  boys.  He  exercised  a 
very  strong  control,  over  even  the  vicious,  by  his  genial  disposition,  his 
good  common  sense,  his  keen  wit,  his  unsleeping  vigilance,  his  long  suf- 
fering patience,  his  respectable  attainments  in  Science,  and  his  devout 
deference  to  the  will  of  God.  Those  who  knew  Dr.  Mitchell  will  readily 
perceive  that  many  of  his  excellent  peculiarities,  as  a  man  and  as  a  Profes- 
sor, must  have  received  an  important  developement  by  his  association  with 
Dr.  Backus. 

Dr.  Mitchell  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1813.  along  with' the  Hon. 
George  E.  Badger,  Dr.  Olmsted,  President  Longstreet,  Mr.  Thomas  P.  De- 
VEREUX,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Singletary,  and  others  who  have  been  of  note  in 
various  walks  in  life.  Among  these  he  was  counted  as  one  of  the  best 
scholars  in  their  class,  being  especially  distinguished  for  his  knowledge  of 
English  Literature.  He  was  very  popular  with  his  College  mates,  and  the 
younger  members  of  the  Institution  especially  delighted  to  do  him  honor. 
The  College  Society  to  which  he  belonged  depended  on  him  to  gain  it  cred- 
it on  public  occasions.  His  fine  physiognomy,  the  dignity  of  his  person, 
the  originality  of  his  discussions,  and  the  humor  that  enlivened  them,  ren- 
dered his  orations  acceptable  to  his  audiences,  and  secured  him  respect 
from  men  of  taste  and  education.  It  was  not  till  the  Senior  year  that  he 
became  thoughtful  on  the  subject  of  Religion.  The  kind  and  gentle  per- 
suasions of  a  classmate — a  man  of  humble  powers  of  mind  but  of  exempla- 
ry piety — had  great  influence  in  leading  him  to  that  serious  examination 
of  his  life  and  hopes,  which  resulted  in  his  conversion. 

On  quitting  College,  Dr.  Mitchell  taught  in  a  school  for  boys,  under  the 
care  of  Dr.  Eigenbrodt,  at  Jamaica,  in  Long  Island.  Afterwards,  in  the 
Spring  of  1815,  he  took  charge  of  a  school  for  girls  in  New  London,  Con- 
necticut. Here  he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Miss  Maria  S.  North, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  an  eminent  physician  of  that  place,  and  became 
his  wife  in  1819.  Experience  has  shown  the  wisdom  of  this  choice,  inas- 
much as  for  nearly  forty  years  this  lady  presided  over  his  household,  so  as 
to  command  his  entire  esteem  and  confidence.  In  1816  |Dr.  Mitchell 
became  a  Tutor  in  Yale  College,  and  while  so  engaged  he  was  recommen- 
ded to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  North  Car- 
olina. This  was  done  through  Judge  Gaston,  by  the  Rev.  Sereno  E.  D  wight, 
a  son  of  President  Dwight,  and  at  that  time  Chaplain  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  Ever  since  1802  one  of  the  most  active  and  judicious  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  University,  Judge  Gaston  was  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  Mr. 


DwiGHT.  Because  of  this  recommendation,  in  1817,  these  gentlemen 
were  appointed  each  to  a  professorship  in  the  University  of  North  Caroli- 
na— 'Dr.  Mitchell  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics  then  vacated  by  Dr.  Cald- 
well's elevation  to  the  Presidency,  and  Dr.  Olmsted  to  the  chair  of  Chemis- 
try, then  first  established  at  the  University.  After  spending  a  short  time 
at  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  receiving  a 
license  to  preach  the  Gospel  from  an  orthodox  Congregational  Association 
in  Connecticut,  Dr.  Mitchell  reached  Chapel  Hill  on  the  last  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1818,  and  immediately  began  to  discharge  his  duties  as  a  professor — 
a  labor  from  which  he  ceased  only  by  reason  of  death.  In  the  discharge 
of  these  duties  he  exhibited  an  energy,  a  vigilance,  an  intelligence,  a  good 
common  sense,  a  self  denial,  an  attention  to  minute  particulars,  and  a  suc- 
cess rarely  surpassed  or  even  equalled.  During  the  thirty'uine-and-a-half 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  University  his  absences  from  his  post  on 
account  of  sickness,  visits  to  the  seat  of  government,  attendance  on  eccle- 
siastical bodies,  and  from  all  other  causes,  did  not  occupy,  on  an  averag<^, 
more  than  three  days  in  a  year.  Indeed,  it  may  be  safely  stated  that, 
throughout  that  entire  period,  his  days  and  his  nights,  in  term  time  and 
in  vacation,  were  devoted  to  his  professorship.  No  one  of  the  hundreds  of 
Students  who  have  been  connected  with  the  University  during  the  last 
generation  will  be  able  to  recall  the  memory  of  his  absence  from  morning 
and  evening  prayers  but  as  a  rare  exception  to  a  general  rule. 

Dr.  Mitchell  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  College  Chapel  shortly 
after  his  arrival  there,  and  his  last  in  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  when  on 
his  way  to  the  scene  of  the  labours  that  cost  him  his  life.  He  was  ordain- 
ed to  the  full  work  of  the  Christian  Ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  Orange 
in  Hillsborough,  North  Carolina,  in  the  fall  of  1821.  During  his  long 
ministry  there  were  very  lew  weeks  in  which  he  did  not  declare  to  his  fel- 
low men  the  will  of  God  for  their  salvation.  He  always  and  most  heartily 
acknowledged  that  this  Kosmos,  with  whose  varied  phenomena  he  was  very 
conversant,  was  created  and  controlled  by  a  personal  God,  whose  wisdom, 
power,  goodness,  and  holiness  he  set  forth  with  no  little  skill,  and  often 
with  a  very  striking  originality.  This  he  did  during  a  time  wherein  too 
many  of  his  associates  in  the  investigation  of  Nature  indulged  in  si-ecula- 
tions,  and  clothed  them  in  language,  that  ignored  the  existence  of  an  au- 
thoritative revelation  concerning  Creation  and  Providence.  His  minute  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Archaiology  and  Geography  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
rendered  his  exposition  of  them  at  times  luminous  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, and,  most  deeply  interesting.  For  the  redemption  of  the  one  race  of 
mankind,  from  the  abyss  of  sin  and  misery  into  which  the  fall  of  Adam  had 
plunged  it,  he  looked  only  to  the  mystery  of  the  Cross  inwrought  by  the 


8 

Holy  Ghost  and  received  by  Faith  into  the  heart  of  each  individual,  and 
he  rested  his  own  soul  thereon  with  sincere  and  deep  felt  emotions.  Dur- 
ing his  eventful  life  he  was  ever  an  attentive  observer  of  the  signs  of  the 
times,  being  a  great  reader  of  newspapers  and  other  periodicals.  In  these 
Le  had  noticed  so  many  associations  for  the  reformation  of  the  evils  in  hu- 
manity, skilfully  organized  and  vehemently  recommended,  and  after  all, 
superseded  by  their  original  projectors,  that  while  he  did  not  oppose 
schemes,  which,  devised  by  man,  relied  on  the  organization  of  his  fellow 
men  for  the  attainment  of  reformation,  he  was  not  disappointed  when 
these  attempts  failed  ;  and  he  persevered  in  the  old  way  of  presenting  to 
his  hearers  the  necessity  of  a  prompt  and  persevering  dependence  on  the 
power  of  personal  and  revealed  religion  to  regulate  the  «iifections  and  the 
daily  life. 

But  it  v.'as  as  a  professor  that  Dr.  Mitchell  displayed  the  most  energy  and 
accomplished  the  greatest  results.  Until  1825  he  presided  over  the  depart- 
ment of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy.  During  this  period  the  doc- 
trine of  Fluxions,  now  called  the  Calculus,  was  introduced  into  the  College 
curriculum,  and  the  degree  of  attainment  in  other  branches  of  Mathematics 
was  elevated  considerably.  In  1825,  when  Dr.  Olmsted  accepted  a  situation 
in  Yale  College,  Dr.  Mitchell  was  transferred  to  the  chair  thus  vacated  and 
left  his  own  to  be  filled  by  Dr.  Phillips.  The  pursuit  of  Natural  Science 
had  alwa^'^s  been  a  delightful  employment  with  Dr.  Mitchell.  Even 
while  a  Professor  of  Mathematics  he  had  frequently  indulged  his  taste  for 
Botany  by  pedestrian  excursions  through  the  country  around  Chapel  Hill. 
After  he  took  upon  himself  instruction  in  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and  Geol- 
ogy he  extended  and  multiplied  these  excursions,  so  that  v.dien  he  died  lie 
was  known  in  almost  every  part  of  North  Carolina,  and  he  left  no  one  be- 
hind him  better  acquainted  with  its  mountains,  vallies,  and  plains,  its^ 
liirds,  beasts,  bugs,  fishes,  and  shells,  its  trees,  flowers,  vines,  and  mosses, 
its  rocks,  stones,  sands,  clays  and  marls.  Although  in  Silliman's  Journal, 
and  in  other  periodicals  less  prominent  but  circulating  more  widely  nearer 
home,  he  published  many  of  his  discoveries  concerning  North  Carolina, 
yet  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  print  more,  and  in  a  more  perma- 
nent form.  It  would  doubtless  have  thus  appeared  that  he  knew  and  per- 
haps justly  estimated  the  worth  of  many  facts  which  much  later  investiga- 
tors have  proclaimed  as  their  own  remarkable  discoveries.  But  the  infor- 
mation he  gathered  was  for  his  own  enjoyment,  and  for  the  instruction  jf 
his  pupils.  On  these  he  lavished,  to  their  utmost  capacity  for  reception, 
the  knowledge  that  he  had  gathered  by  his  widely  extended  observations, 
and  had  stored  up  mainly  in  the  recesses  of  his  own  singularly  retentive 
memory. 


9 

But  it  was  not  only  for  accuracy  and  intelligence  as  a  personal  observer, 
th;it  Dr.  Mitchell  was  famous,  marked  as  his  exertions  were  by  a  won- 
derful activiW  of  bod}-,  patience  of  labour,  and  insensibility  to  fatigue. 
He  read  greedily  all  that  he  had  a  chance  to  read  on  the  subjects  directly 
or  indirectly  concerning  his  professorship,  and  on  many  other  things  be- 
sides. So  that  he  well  deserved  the  name  of  "  the  walking  Encyclopedia." 
There  were  xery  few  subjects  on  which  men  of  polite  literature,  or  of  ab- 
stract as  vrell  as  natural  science  converse,  wherein  he  was  not  an  intelli- 
gent and  appreciative  listener,  or  an  instructive  teachen  His  knowledge  of 
(jcography  was  wonderful.  It  was  a  constant  amusement  for  him  to  read 
the  advertisements  in  a  large  commercial  newspaper,  to  learn  what  things 
were  bought  and  sold  in  the  markets  of  the  world,  and  then  to  sit  doAvn 
and  find  out  where  the  things  were  manufactured.  Such  was  his  reputa- 
tation  for  these  acquisitions  that  when  any  one  wanted  some  rare  inferma- 
tion  on  a  Historical,  or  Geographical,  or  more  strictly  Scientific  matter,  it 
was  a  common  thing  to  say,  "  Go,  ask  Dr.  Mitchell."  He  also  kept  him- 
self supplied  with  periodicals  and  magazines  in  which  the  Sciences  he 
taught  were  developing;  for  he  loved  to  have  his  knowledge  fresh,  and 
would  not  wait  for  others  to  winnow  the  true  from  the  false.  He  took 
pleasure  in  running  the  pure  motal  from  the  crude  ore  for  himself.  His 
large  library  contained  something  on  almost  every  thing.  But  it  was  in 
such  a  form,  and  obtained  in  such  times,  and  at  such  prices  that  in  the 
market  it  never  would  have  brought  any  approximation  to  what  it  cost 
him.  The  Sciences  he  taught  were  developing  Avhile  he  taught  them,  and 
he  felt  it  incumbent  on  him  to  have  at  the  earliest  moment  Avhatever 
treatise  he  heard  of  as  likely  to  secure  him  the  best  and  latest  informa- 
tion. ]Much  of  what  Dr.  Mitchell  had  to  read  is  not  now  necessary,  and 
many  of  his  acquisitions  may  seem  to  others  useless,  but  he  thus  provided 
that  no  one  of  his  pupils  left  his  laboratory  Avithout  having  an  opportunity 
(}f  learning  all  that  Avas  of  interest  or  of  use  to  him  on  the  subjects  there 
discussed.  Nor  Avere  his  remarkable  accomplishments  as  a  professor  con- 
fined to  his  oAA'n  department.  In  the  Ancient  Languages  he  Avas  frequent- 
ly ready  and  able  to  help  a  colleague  who  Avas  prevented  from  discharging 
his  oAvn  duties.  In  the  Mathematics  he  would  often,  at  public  examina- 
tions, propose  such  questions  as  shoAved  that  his  earlier  love  still  retained 
a  hold  on  his  attention  and  affections.  He  Avas  a  good  Avriter,  and  in  the 
department  of  Belles  Lettres  he  Avas  a  Avell-read  and  insti-uctive  critic. 
When  it  was  knoAvn  that  he  Avas  to  deliver  an  address  before  the  North 
Carolina  Agricultural  Society,  a  friend,  Avho  kneAv  him  well,  exclaimed, 
"I'll  Avarrant  that  Dr.  Mitchell  begins  at  the  garden  of  .Eden."  And  so 
he  did.     But  by  the  time  that,  passing  through  Egypt  and  Canaan,  Greece 


10 

and  Rome  and  Great  Britain,  he  got  to  Cbatham  County  in  North  Carolina, 
he  furnished,  as  usual,  an  essay  full  of  rare  information,-  judicious  sugges- 
tions, peculiar  humour,  and  excellent  common  sense. 

As  a  teacher,  Dr.  Mitchell  took  great  pains  in  inculcating  the  first 
principles  of  Science.  These  he  set  forth  distinctly  in  the  very  beginning 
of  his  instructions,  and  he  never  let  his  pupils  lose  sight  of  them.  When 
brilliant  and  complicated  phenomena  were  presented  for  their  contempla- 
tion, he  sought  not  to  excite  their  wonder  or  magnify  himself  in  their  eyes 
as  a  man  of  suprising  acquirements,  or  as  a  most  dexterous  manipulator, 
but  to  exhibit  such  instances  as  most  clearly  set  forth  fundamental  laws, 
and  demanded  the  exercise  of  a  skilful  analysis.  Naturally  of  a  cautious 
disposition,  such  had  been  his  own  experience,  and  so  large  was  his  ac- 
quaintance with  the  experience  of  others,  that  he  was  not  easily  excited 
when  others  announced  unexpected  discoveries  among  the  laws  and  the 
phenomena  which  he  had  been  studying  for  years  as  they  appeared. — 
While  others  were  busy  in  prophesying  revolutions  in  social  or  political 
economy,  he  "vv^as  quietly  awaiting  the  decisions  of  experience.  He  con- 
stantly taught  his  pupils  that  there  were  times  wherein  they  must  turn 
from  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  charm  he  ever  so  sweetly.  His  influence  on 
the  developments  of  Science  was  eminently  conservative,  for  he  loved  the 
old  landmarks.  As  a  disciplinarian  he  was  vigilant,  conscientious,  long 
suffering,  firm,  and  mild.  Believing  that  the  prevention  was  better  than 
the  cure  of  the  ills  of  a  College  life,  he  was  constantly  watching  to  guard 
the  Students  from  a  violation  of  the  rules  of  morality  and  common  pro- 
priety. When  offences  were  committed,  to  the  offender  he  set  forth  his 
conduct  in  its  true  light,  and  often  with  very  plain  language.  But  when 
punishment  was  to  be  inflicted  he  generally  proposed  that  which  appealed 
to  the  culprit's  better  feelings,  and  left  him  a  door  open  for  a  return  to  a 
better  mind  and  an  earnest  attempt  for  his  reformation.  Many  cases  are 
known  where  such  unwearied  and  unostentatious  kindness  has  produced 
the  happiest  results.  How  widely  extended  it  was  no  one  can  tell  now  for 
it  was  almost  always  shown  to  the  receiver  alone.  It  sprang  from  a  love 
to  man  and  fear  of  God,  for  Dr.  Mitchell  never  feared  the  face  of  his 
fellow. 

Dr.  Mitchell  enjoyed  being  busy.  Neither  laziness  nor  idleness  enter- 
ed into  his  composition,  so  that  he  always  had  something  which  he  was 
doing  heartily.  Besides  being  a  Professor,  he  educated  his  own  children 
and  especially  his  daughters  to  a  degree  not  often  attempted.  He  was 
a  regular  preacher  in  the  College  Chapel  and  in  the  village  Church,  the 
College  Bursar,  a  Justice  of  the  peace,  a  Farmer,  a  Commissioner  for 
the  village  of  Chapel  Hill,  and  at  times  its  Magistrate  of  Police.     What- 


11 

ever  plans  he  laid  were  generally  sketched  on  a  large  scale,  and  when  exe- 
cuted, they  were  commonly  well  done.  Although  a  man  of  strong  feel- 
ings, his  excitement  rarely  lasted  long,  and  he  did  not  harbour  resentment 
even  when  he  had  to  remove  unjust  suspicions,  or  forgive  unmerited  inju- 
ries. His  generosity  was  abundant,  and  was  often  appealed  to  again  and 
again.  No  friend  of  his  ever  asked  him  for  help  without  getting  all  that 
he  could  give  him.  In  this  he  often  swore  to  his  own  hurt  yet  he  did  not 
change. 

Such  were  the  leading  characteristics  of  Dr.  Mitchell  who  loved  God 
and  every  thing  He  has  made ;  and  now,  while  his  colleagues  mourn  for 
one  who  counselled  with  wisdom  and  executed  with  vigour — while  men  of 
Science  miss  the  co-operation  of  a  learned  associate  members  of  the  Cabi- 
net and  Ministers  to  foreign  countries,  with  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  Congress,  Governors  of  our  States  with  their  Judges  and  their  Legisla- 
tors, Ambassadors  from  the  Court  of  Heaven,  and  men  of  renown  in 
the  professsions,  learned  Professors,  with  famous  School-masters,  and 
thousands  of  other  pupils  in  more  retired  positions  rise  up  in  all  parts  of 
our  country  to  do  their  revered  preceptor  high  honor.  His  bow  abode  in 
strength  to  the  last,  neither  was  his  natural  force  abated.  He  died  as 
Abner  died,  and  because  they  loved  him  unlettered  slaves  as  well  as  migh- 
ty men  followed  his  bier  weeping. 

Dr.  Mitchell  perished  on  Saturday,  the  27th  of  June,  1857,  in  the  six- 
ty-fourth year  of  his  age.  He  attempted  alone  to  descend  Mt.  Mitchell 
the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain  which  is  in  Yancey  County,  North 
Carolina.  But  a  thunder  storm  detained  him  on  the  mountain,  so  that  it 
was  evening  and  dark  as  he  was  groping  his  way  down  the  mountain's 
iiides.  Not  far  from  nineteen  minutes  past  eight — for  his  watch  marked 
that  time — he  pitched  head-long  some  forty  feet  down  the  precipice  into  a 
small  but  deep  pool  of  water  that  feeds  the  Sugar  Camp  Fork  of  Caney 
Eiver.  At  the  bottom  of  this  pool  he  was  found  on  the  8th  of  July  by 
Mr.  Thomas  D.  Wilson,  who  with  some  two  hundred  other  mountain-  men 
"were  looking  for  Dr.  Mitchell  in  every  glen  on  the  sides  of  that  fearful 
anountain  mass.  This  was  the  fifth  visit  that  Dr.  Mitchell  had  paid  to 
the  Black  Mountain,  the  others  being  in  1835,  1838,  1844,  and  1856  re- 
spectively. His  object  at  this  time  was  partly  personal,  and  partly  Scien- 
tific. He  wished  to  correct  the  mistakes  into  which  some  had  ]>een  led 
concerning  his  earlier  visits,  and  to  so  compare  the  indications  of  the 
Spirit  Level  and  the  Barometer,  that  future  explorers  of  mountain  heights 
might  have  increased  confidence  in  the  results  afibrded  them  by  these  in- 
-struments.  His  untimely  end  left  both  parts  of  this  work  to  be  completed 
by  the  pious  hands  of  others. 


12 

Dr.  Mitchell  was  buried  in  Asheville,  North  Carolina,  on  the  10th  of 
July,  1857,  by  the  side  of  one  of  liis  College  mates.  But  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  many  friends,  and  especially  of  the  mountain  men  of  Yancey, 
his  family  allowed  his  body  to  be  removed  and  deposited  on  the  top  of  Mt. 
Mitchell.  This  was  done  on  the  16th  of  June,  1858.  There  he  shall  rest 
till  the  Judgment  Day,  in  a  mausoleum  such  as  no  other  man  has  ever  had. 
Reared  by  the  hands  of  Omnipotence,  it  was  assigned  to  him  by  those  to 
whom  it  was  given  thus  to  express  their  esteem,  and  it  was  consecrated  by 
the  lips  of  eloquence  warmed  by  affection,  amidst  the  rites  of  our  Holy  Re- 
ligion. Before  him  lies  the  North  Carolina  he  loved  so  well  and  served  so 
faithfully.  From  his  lofty  couch  its  hills  and  vallies  melt  into  its  plains 
as  they  stretch  away  to  the  shores  of  the  eastern  ocean,  whence  the  dawn 
of  the  last  day  stealing  quietly  westward,  as  it  lights  the  mountain  tops 
first,  shall  awake  him  earliest  to  hear  the  greeting  of 

a^  "Well  DOXE  GOOD  AND  FAITHFUL  SERVANT." 

% 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  PROFESSOR  MITCHELL'S  BODY. 

From  the  Asheville  Spectator. 

Messrs.  Editors — Having  spent  a  week  at  the  scene  of  this  memorable 
calamity,  in  eearch  of  the  body  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  assisting  in  its  remrn 
val  after  it  -"A-as  found,  I  have  been  requested  by  sundry  citizens  to  give  to 
the  public  a  sketch  of  the  deplorable  event.  In  accordance  with  their  re- 
quest, I  now  take  my  pen  to  give  you  all  I  know  of  the  accident,  which 
has  caused  so  much  sorrowful  excitement  in  this  region,  and  which  I 
doubt,  not  will  unnerve  the  public  feeling  to  its  centre  throughout  the 
State  when  the  sad  tidings  shall  be  generally  known. 

It  is  known  to  all  who  have  felt  interested  in  our  State  Geography,  that 
there  lately  sprung  up  a  dispute  between  the  Hon.  T.  L.  Clingman  and 
Dr.  Mitchell,  in  regard  to  one  of  the  high  peaks  of  the  Black  Mountain 
put  down  in  Cook's  map  as  Mt.  Clingman.  The  former  alledging  that  he 
was  first  to  measure  and  ascertain  its  superior  height  to  any  other  point 
on  the  range,  and  the  latter  gentleman  asserting  that  he  was  on  that  same 
peak  and  measured  it  in  the  year  1844.  After  several  letters,  pro  and  con, 
through  the  newspapers,  Dr.  Mitchell  announced  last  fall  his  intention 
of  visiting  the  mountains  again  for  the  purpose  of  re-measuring  the  peak 
in  dispute,  taking  the  statements  of  some  gentlemen  who  had  acted  as  his 
guides  on  his  former  visits,  &c.  Sometime  since,  about  the  middle  of 
June,  I  think,  he  came  up,  in  company  with  his  son  Chas.  A  Mitchell,  his 
daughter,  and  a  servant  boy,  established  his  headquarters  at  Jesse  Stepp's, 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  began*the  .laborious  task  of  ascertaining 
the  height  of  the  highest  peak  by  an  instrumental  survey,  which  as  the 
former  ad-measurements  were  only  barometrical,  would  fix  its  altitude  with 
perfect  accuracy.  He  had  proceeded  with  his  work  near  two  weeks,  and 
had  rea^clied  to  some  quarter  of  a  mi>e  above  Mr.  Wm.  Patton's  Mountain 
House,  by  Saturday  evening,  2^  o'clock,  the  27th  of  June,  at  which  time 
he  quit  work  and  told  his  son  that  he  was  going  to  cross  the  mountain  to 
the  settlement  on  Caney  River  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  ]Nlr.  Thomas  Wil- 
son, "Wm.  Riddle,  and  I  believe  another  Mr.  AVilson,  who  had  guided  him 
up  to  the  top  on  a  former  visit.  He  promised  to  return  to  the  Mountain 
House  on  Monday  at  noon.  There  was  no  one  with  him.  This  was  the 
last  time  he  Avas  ever  seen  alive.  On  Monday  his  son  repaired  to  the 
Mountain  House-to  meet  his  f\ither,  but  he  did  not  come.  Tuesday  the 
same  thing  occurred,  and  though  considerable  uneasiness  was  felt  for  his 
safety,  yet  there  were  so  many  ways  to  account  for  his  delay  that  it  was 
scarcely  thought  necessary  to  alarm  the  neighborhood ;  but  when  Wednes- 


14 

day  night  came  and  brought  no  token  of  him,  his  son  and  Mr.  John  Stepp 
immediately  started  on  Thursday  morning  to  Caney  River  in  search  of  him. 
On  arriving  at  Mr.  Thos.  Wilson's,  v\rhat  vras  their  astonishment  and  dis- 
may to  learn  that  he  had  neither  been  seen  nor  heard  of  in  that  settle- 
ment !  They  immediately  returned  to  Mr.  Stepp's,  the  alarm  was  given, 
and  before  sundown  on  Friday  evening  companies  of  the  ha^dy  mountai- 
neers- from  the  North  Fork  of  the  Swannanoa  were  on  their  way  up  the 
mountain.  The  writer,  happening  to  be  present  on  a  visit  to  the  Black, 
joined  the  first  company  that  went  up.  About  eighteen  persons  camped 
at  the  Mountain  Housq  that  evening,  and  continued  accessions  were  made 
to  our  party  during  the  night,  by  the  good  citizens  of  that  neighborhood, 
Tvho  turned  out  at  the  call  of  humanity  as  fast  as  they  heard  the  alarm, 
some  from  their  fields,  some  from  working  on  the  road,  and  all  without  a 
moment's  hesitation.  Early  on  Saturday  morning  our  party  under  the 
command  of  Mr.  Fred  Burnett  and  his  sons,  all  experienced  hunters,  and 
Jesse  Stepp  and  others  who  were  familiar  with  the  mountains,  struck  out 
for  the  Baain  top,  and  began  the  search  by  scouring  the  woods  on  the  left 
hand  or  Caney  River  side  of  the  trail  that  runs  along  the  top.  We  continu- 
ed on  this  way  to  the  highest  peak  without  discovering  any  traces  what- 
ever of  his  passage,  when  our  company  became  so  scattered  into  small 
parties  that  no  further  systematic  search  could  be  made  that  day.  But 
directly  in  our  rear  as  we  came  up  the  mountain  was  Mr.  Eldridge  Bur- 
nett with  some  more  of  his  neighbors,  who  had  come  from  their  houses 
that  morning ;  and  hearing  a  report  that  Dr.  Mitchell  had  expressed  his 
intention  of  striking  a  bee  line  from  the  top  for  the  settlements  without 
following  the  blazed  trail  way-  to  Caney  River,  they  searched  for  signs  in 
that  direction,  and  soon  found  a  trail  in  the  «oft  moss  and  fern  that  was 
believed  to  have  been  made  by  him,  and  followed  it  until  it  came  to  the 
first  fork  of  Caney,  where  it  was  lost.  Nothing  doubting  but  they  were 
on  his  track,  and  that  he  had  continued  down  the  stream,  they  went  seve- 
ral miles  along  the  beat  of  the  river,  over  inconceivably  rough  and  dange- 
rous ground,  until  dark,  when  they  threw  themselves  upon  the  earth  and 
rested  till  morning.  Mr.  Stepp,  Mr.  Fred.  Burnett  and  others  made  their 
way  to  Wilson's  on  Caney  River  to  join  the  company  that  was  coming  up 
from  the  Yancey  side,  and  the  writer  and  many  others  returned,  gloomy 
^and  disappointed  to  the  Mountain  House.  Thus  ended  the  first  day's 
search.  During  almost  the  entire  day  the  rain  had  poured  down  steadily, 
tke  air  was  cold  and  chilling,  the  thermometer  indicating  about  44°  at 
noon,  whilst  the  heavy  clouds  wrapped  the  whole  mountain  in  such  a 
dense  fog  that  it  was  impossible  to  see  any  distance  before  us.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  genii  of  those  vast  mountain  solitudes  were  angered  at  our  un- 


15 

wonted  intrusion,  and  had  invoked  the  Storm-God  to  enshroud  in  deeper 
gloom  the  sad  and  mysterious  fate  of  their  noble  victim. 

Sabbath  morning  came,  but  its  holy  stillness  and  sacred  associations 
were  all  unregarded,  and  the  party  camping  in  the  Mountain  House,  now 
largely   augmented  by  constant  arrivals   from  the  settlements,  plunged 
again  into  the  gloomy  forest  of  gigantic  firs,  and  filing  through  the  dark 
and  deep  gorges  struck  far  down  into  the  wilds  of  Caney  River.     Mr.  El- 
dridge  Burnett's  party  returned  about  2  o'clock,  bringing,  no  tidings  and 
seeing  no  further  trace  whatever  of  the  wanderer's  footsteps.     Still  later 
in  the  day  Messrs.  Fred.  Burnett  and  Jesse  Stepp  and  party  returned  with 
some  twelve  or  fifteen  of  the  ciz-ens  of  Caney  River,  having  traversed  a 
large  scope  of  country  and  finding  still  no  trace  of  the  lost  one.     The  rain 
still  continued  to  pour  down,  and  the  gloomy  and  ill-omened  fog  still  con- 
tinued to  wrap  the  mountain's  brow  in  its  rayless  and  opaque  shroud. 
Jnst  before  dark  the  remaining  party  came  in,  unsuccessful,  tired,  hungry 
^and  soaking  with  water.     A  general  gloom  now  overspread  the  counte- 
nances of  all,  as  the  awful  and  almost  undeniable  fact  was  proclaimed, 
that  Dr.  Mitchell  was  surely  d^ad,  and  our  only  object  in  making  the 
search,  would  be-  to  recue  his  mortal  remains  from  the  wild  beasts  and 
give  them  christian  sepulture  !     It  could  not  be  possible,  we  thought,  that 
he  was  alive,  for  cold,  and  hunger,  and  fatigue,  if  nothing  worse  had  hap- 
pened to  him,  would  ere  this  have  destroyed  him,     Alas  !  we  reasoned  too 
well.     By  this  time  the  alarm  had  spread  far  and  near,  and  many  citizens 
of  Asheville  and  other  parts  of  the  country  were  flocking  to  the  mountains 
to  assist  in  the  search  for  one  so  universally  beloved  and  respected.     On 
JMonday  tho  company  numbered  some  sixty  men.     New  routes  were  pro- 
jected, new  ground  of  search  proposed,  and  the  hunt  conducted  through- 
out the  day  with   renewed  energy  and  determination,  but  still  without 
avail.     On  Tuesday  the  company  of  Buncombe  men  separated  into  three 
squads   and   took   difi"erent  routes,  whilst  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson  and  his 
neighbors  from  Caney  River,  took  a  still  more  distant  route,  by  going  to 
the  top  of  the  highest  peak  and  searching  down  towards  the  Cat-tail  fork 
of  the  River.     They  were  led  to  take  this  route  by  the  suggestion  of  Mr, 
Wilson,  that  Dr.  M.  had  gone  up  that  way  in  his  visit  to  the  high  peak  in 
1844,  and  that  perhaps  he  had  undertaken  to  go  down  by  the  same  route. 
They  accordingly  struck  out  for  that  point,  and  turning  to  the  left  to  strike 
down  the  mountain  in  the  prairie  near  the  top,  at  the  very  spot  where  it 
is  alleged  that  the  Doctor  entered  it  thirteen  years  ago,  they  instantly 
perceived  the  impression  of  feet  upon  the  yielding  turf,  pointing  down  the 
mountain  in  the  direction  indicated  of  his  former  route.     After  tracing  it 
some  distance  with  that  unerring  woodcraft  which  is  so  wonderful  to  all 


16 

but  tine  close  observing  hunter,  they  became  convinced  that  it  was  his 
trail  and  sent  a  messenger  back  some  five  miles  to  inform  the  Buncombe 
men,  and  telling  them  to  hurry  on  as  fast  as  they  could.  The  Avriter  with 
Mr.  Charles  Mitchell  and  many  others  were  in  a  deep  valley  on  the  head 
waters. of  another  fork  of  the  river,  when  the  blast  of  a  horn  and  the  firing 
of  guns  on  a  distant  peak,  made  us  aware  that  some  discovery  Avas  made. 
Hurrying  with  breathless  haste  up  the  steep  mountain  side  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  guns  we  soon  came  np  and  found  the  greater  part  of  our  com- 
pany watching  for  us,  with  the  news  that  the  Yancey  company  were  upon 
the  trail  we  had  been  so  earnestly  seeking  so  many  days.  After  a  brief 
consultation,  two  or  three  of  our  party  a'eturned  to  the  Mountain  House 
for  provisions,  and  the  balance  of  us  started  as  fast  as  we  could  travel 
along  the  main  top  towards  our  Yancey  friends,  and  reached  the  high  peak 
just  before  dark.  Here  v\'e  camped  in  a  small  cabin  built  by  Mr.  Jesse 
Stepp,  ate  a  hasty  supper  and  threw  ourselves  upon  the  floor,  without 
covering,  to  rest. 

About  1  o'clock  in  the  night,  just  as  the  writer  was  about  closing  his 
eyes  in  troubled  and  uneasy  slumber,  a  loud  halloo  was  heard  from  the  high 
bluff  that  looms  over  the  cabin.  It  was  answered  from  .within  and  in  a 
moment  every  sleeper  Avas  upon  his  feet.  Mr.  Jesse  Stepp,  Capt.  Robert 
Patton  and  others,  then  came  down  and  told  us  that  the  body  Avas  found. 
Mournfully  then  indeed  those  hardy  sons  of  the  mountain  seated  them- 
selves around  the  smouldering  cabin  fire,  and  on  the  trunks  of  the  fallen 
firs,  and  then,  in  the  light  of  a  glorious  full  moon,  whose  rays  penciled  the 
dark  damp  forest  with  liquid  silver,  seven  thousand  feet  above  the  tide- 
washed  sands  of  the  Atlantic,  the  melancholj'^  tale  was  told.  Many  a  heart 
was  stilled  with  sadness  as  the  awful  truth  was  disclosed  and  many  a 
rough  face  glittered  with  a  tear  in  the  refulgent  moon-light  as  it  looked 
upon  the  marble  pallor  and  statue-stillness  of  the  stricken  and  bereaved 
son,  and  thought  of  those  far  away  whom  this  sudden  evil  Avould  so  deep- 
ly afflict. 

It  was  as  they  expected.  The  deceased  had  undertaken  to  go  the  same 
route  to  the  settlements  which  he  had  formerly  gone.  They  traced  him 
rapidly  down  the  precipices  of  the  mountain,  until  they  reached  the  stream 
(the  Cat-tail  fork),  found  his  traces  going  down  it — following  on  a  hundred 
yards  or  so,  they,  came  to  a  rushing  cataract  some  forty  feet  high,  saw  his 
foot-prints  trying  to  climb  around  the  edge  of  the  yawning  precipice,  saw 
the  moss  torn  up  by  the  outstretched  hand,  and  then — the  solid,  impression- 
less  granite  refused  to  tell  more  of  his  fate.  But  clambering  hastily  to 
the  bottom  of  the  roaring  abyss,  they  found  a  basin  worn  out  of  the  solid 
rock  by  the  frenzied  torrent,  at  least  fourteen  feet  deep,  filled  with  clear 


17 

and  crystal  waters  cold  and  pure  as  the  winter  snow  that  generates  them. 
At  the  bottom  of  this  basin,  quietly  reposing,  with  outstretched  arms,  day 
the  mortal  remains  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  the  good,  the  great, 
the  wise,  the  simple  minded,^  the  pure  of  heart,  the  instructor  of  youth, 
the  disciple  of  knowledge  and  the  preacher  of  Christianity  !  Oh  what 
friend  to  science  and  virtue  what  youth  among  all  the  thousands  that 
have  listened  to  his  teachings,  what  friend  that  has  ever  taken  him  by  the 
hand,  can  think  of  this  wild  and  awful  scene  unmoved  by  the  humanity  of 
tears  !  can  think  of  those  gigantic  pyramidal  firs,  whose  interlocking 
branches  shut  out  the  light  of  heaven,  the  many  hued  rhododendrons  that 
freight  the  air  with  their  perfume  and  lean  weepingly  over  the  waters,  that 
crystal  stream  leaping  down  the  great  granites  and  hastening  from  the 
majestic  presence  of  the  mighty  peak  above,  whilst  in  the  deep  pool  below, 
where  the  weary  waters  rest  but  a  single  moment,  lies  the  inanimate  body 
of  his  dear  friend  and  preceptor,  apparently  listening  to  the  mighty  requi- 
em of  the  cataract  I !  Truly  "  Man  knoweth  not  his  time,  and  the  sons  of 
men  are  entrapped  in  the  evil,  when  it  cometh  suddenly  upon  them." 

Upon  consultation  it  was  thought  best  to  let  the  body  remain  in  the  wa- 
ter until  all  arrangements  were  completed  for  its  removal  and  interment  ; 
judging  rightly  that  the  cold  and  pure  waters  would  better  preserve  it,  than 
it  could  be  kept  in  any  other  way.  At  day  light  a  number  of  hands  went 
to  cutting  out  a  trail  from  the  top  of  the  mountain  to  where  the  body  lay, 
a  distance  of  three  miles,  whilst  others  went  to  Asheville  to  make  the  ne- 
cessary arrangements.  Word  was  also  sent  to  the  coroner  of  Yancey,  and 
to  the  citizens  generally  to  come  and  assist  us  in  raising  the  body  on  Wed- 
nesday morning.  At  that  time  a  large  num])er  of  persons  assembled  at 
Mr.  Jesse  Stepp's  and  set  out  for  the  spot,  bearing  the  coffin  upon  our 
shoulders  up  the  dreary  steeps.  We  had  gone  near  ten  miles  in  this  way 
and  had  just  turned  down  from  the  high  peak  towards  the  river,  when  we 
were  met  by  Mr.  Coroner  Ayers,  and  about  fifty  of  the  citizens  of  Yance}', 
coming  up  with  the  body.  They  had  got  impatient  at  our  delay,  and  en- 
veloping the  body  in  a  sheet  and  fastening  it  securely  upon  a  long  pole, 
laid  it  upon  the  shoulders  of  ten  men  and  started  up  the  mountain.  And 
now  became  manifest  the  strength  and  hardihood  of  tliose  noble  mountai- 
neers. For  three  miles  above  them  the  precipitous  granites  and  steep 
mountain  sides  forbade  almost  the  ascent  of  an  unincumbered  man,  which 
was  rendered  doubh'  difficult  by  great  trunks  of  trees,  and  the  t^iick  and 
tangled  laurel  which  blocked  up  the  way.  The  load  was  near  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  and  only  two  men  could  carry  at  once.  But  nothing 
(la"-nted  by  the  fearful  exertion  before  them,  they  steJD  boldly  up  the  way, 
fresh  hands  stepped  in  every  few  moments,  all  struggling  without  inter- 


18 

mission  and  eager  to  assist  in  the  work  of  humanity.  Anon  they  would 
come  to  a  place  at  which  it  was  impossible  for  the  bearers  to  proceed,  and 
then  they  would  form  a  line  by  taking  each  others  hands  the  uppermost 
man  grasping  a  tree  and  with  shouts  of  encouragement  heave  up  by  main 
strength.  In  this  way,  after  indescribably  toiling  for  some  hours  they 
reached  the  spot.  Here  was  afforded  another  instance  of  the  great  affec- 
tion  and  regard  in  which  the  deceased  was  held  by  all.  These  bold  and 
hardy  men  desired  to  have  the  body  buried  there  and  contended  for  it  long 
and  earnestly.  They  said  that  he  had  first  made  known  the  superior 
height  of  their  glorious  mountain  and  noised  their  fame  almost  through- 
out the  Union,  that  he  had  died  whilst  contending  for  his  right  to  that 
loftiest  of  all  the  Atlantic  mountains,  on  which  we  then  stood,  and  they 
desired  to  place  his  remains  right  there,  add  at  no  other  spot.  It  would 
indeed  have  been  an  appropriate  resting  place  for  him,  and  greatly  was  it 
wished  for  by  the  whole  country,  before  its  being  told  them  that  his  fami- 
ly wanted  his  remains  brought  down.  They  reluctantly  yielded,  and  the 
Buncombe  men  proceeded  to  bring  the  body  slowly  down  the  valley  of  the 
Swannanoa.  Before  leaving  the  top,  the  writer  took  down  the  names  of 
all  present,  and  will  ask  you  to  publish  them  to  the  world,  as  men  who 
have  done  honor  to  our  common  humanity  by  their  generous  and  disinter- 
ested conduct  on  this  melancholy  occasion.  I  am  no  flatterer,  Messrs. 
Editors,  but  I  must  confess  that  the  labor  which  these  mountain  men  ex- 
pended and  the  sacrifice  they  so  willingly  and  cheerfully  made,  is  worthy 
of  all  praise  and  admiration.  May  God  reward  their  kindness ;  I  feel  sure, 
the  numerous  friends  and  pupils  of  the  dear  deceased  would  rather  read 
the  list  of  these  men's  names  than  the  "ayes  and  naes"  of  any  Con- 
gressional vote  that  has  been  recorded  in  many  a  day. 

FROM  YANCEY. 

Nathaniel  B.  Ray,  I.  M.  Broyles,  Joseph  Shephard,  Washington  Broy- 
les,  Henry  Wheeler,  Thomas  Wilson,  Jas.  M.  Ray,  D.  W.  Burleson,  G.  B. 
Silvers,  J.  0.  Griffith,  E.  Williams,  A.  D.  Allen,  A.  L.  Ray,  Thomas  D. 
Wilson,  E.  A.  Pyatt,  D.  W.  Howard,  W.  M.  Astin,  James  H.  Riddle,  Dr. 
W.  Crumley,  G.  D.  Ray,  Burton  Austin,  James  Allen,  Henry  Ray,  T.  L. 
Randolph,  John  McPeters,  W.  B.  Creasman,  S.  J.  Nanney,  Samuel  Ray, 
E.  W.  Boren,  Rev.  W.  C.  Bowman,  J.  W.  Bailey,  Thomas  Silvers,  Jr., 
Thomas  Calloway,  Henry  Allen,  J.  L.  Gibbs,  Jesse  Ray,  James  Hensley, 
Robert  Riddle,  W.  D.  Williams,  J.  D.  Young,  William  Rolen,  G.  W.  Wil- 
son,  John  Rogers,  James  Allen,  Jr.  J.  W.  Ayres,  J.  F.  Presnell,  R.  A. 
Rumple,  W.  J.  Hensley,  D.  H.  Silvers,  R.  Don  Wilson,  Jas.  Calloway. 


19 

FROM  BUNCOMBE. 

S.  C.  Lambert,  William  Burnett,  R.  H.  Burnett,  R.  J.  Fortune,  Ephraim 
Glass,  J.  H.  Bartlett,  B.  F,  Fortune,  A.  N.  Alexander,  James  Gaines,  J. 
E.  Ellison,  John  F.  Bartlett,  F.  F.  Bartlett,  Elijah  Kearly,  E.  Clayton,  A. 
Burgin,  Jesse  Stepp,  D.  F.  Summey,  T.  J.  Corpning,  Harris  Ellison,  T.  B. 
Boyd,  A.  J.  Lindsey,  Joshua  Stepp,  William  Powers,  R.  P.  Lambert,  Tis- 
dale  Stepp,  Daniel  Burnett,  Thadeus  C.  Coleman,  A.  F.  Harris,  W.  C. 
Fortune,  Fletcher  Fortune,  Capt.  Robert  Patton,  Cooper,  servant  of  Wm. 
Patton,  John,  servant  of  Fletcher  Fortune,  Esq. 

A.  J.  Emmerson,  Chatham  County,  A.  E.  Rhodes,  Jones  County,,  H.  H. 
Young,  and  Moses  Dent,  Franklin  County ;  all  students  of  Wake  Forest 
College. 

This  list  does  not  comprise  all  who  assisted  in  the  search,  as  much  to 
my  regret  I  did  not  take  a  list  of  any  but  those  present  at  the  removal  of 
the  body.  I  believe,  however,  that  the  names  of  all  are  recorded  on  the 
register  of  Mr.  Patton's  Mountain  House,  where  the  friends  of  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell can  see  them  when  they  visit  (as  I  have  no  doubt  many  will)  the  scene 
of  his  death. 

This  ends  my  brief  sketch  of  this  melancholy  affair.  As  to  any  eulogy 
upon  Dr.  Mitchell's  character  I  feel  myself  unequal  to  the  task.  I  trust 
that  it  will  be  appropriately  pronounced  by  some  one  of  his  learned  and 
devoted  fellow  laborers  of  the  University.  My  feeble  pen  could  add  noth- 
ing to  his  moral  and  intellectual  stature.  I  will  only  say,  that  I  loved  him 
as  sincerely  as  any  one  in  the  State.  I  am  gratified  to  be  able  to  state  that 
unusual  kindness  and  respect  was  exhibited  by  every  citizen  of  the  coun- 
try throughout  the  whole  transaction. 

Yours  truly,  Z.  B.  VANCE. 


A  FUKERAL  SERMON, 

DELIVERED  IX  THE 

PRESBTTEKIA^"  CHURCH  AT  ASHEYH^LE, 

ox  THE  TENTH  OF  JULY  1857. 

By  the  REV.  ROBERT  HETT  CHAPMAN,  D.  D., 

A  SOX  OF  THE  SECOND  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 


Max  kxoweth  xot  uis  time  : .    *     *     ^     the  soxs  of  mex  are  sxared  in 

AX  evil  WHEX   it  FALLET^  SUDDEXLT  UPOX  THEM.^ — Eccl.  chap.  9,  V.  12. 

What  words  of  truth  are  these  ?  and  how  fearfully  have  they  been  rea- 
lized in  the  incidents  which  have  convened  us  here  to-day  I  The  doctrine 
of  the  Text  is,  that  there  is  a  dreadful  uncertainty  respecting  things  ter- 
re.stial — that  trials,  and  changes,  and  death  are  our  heritage  here-— that  in 
our  calmest,  and  even  apparently  in  our  safest  hours,  we  are  but  short 
sighted  and  frail — all  exposed  and  in  peril :  and  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth !  Children  of  clay,  and  inhabiting  a  globe  of  graves,  we  are 
in  peril  every  hour !  It  is  true  the  Almighty  upholds,  and  Ave  are  in  His 
hands  !  His  Providence  is  over  us,  but  whether  it  shall  be  afflictive,  or  be^ 
nisnant — whether  of  the  issues  of  Life,  or  of  Death  we  cannot  tell!  The 
future  is  all  before  us,  but  shadows,  clouds,  and  darkness  rest  upon  it ! 
its  issues,  and  its  events  are  alone  kno\tn  to  the  Infinite  !  To  the  Chris- 
tian, and  in  his  conception  there  are  no  accidents — nothing  fortuitous — ■- 
the  hand  of  God  is  in  it  all;  and  so  it  is  in  point  of  fact  XLutli  us  all; 
whether  we  realize  it,  or  not — God  telleth  off  your  days  and  mine,  and 
those  of  the  entire  race ! — as  an  hireling  we  shall  each  accomplish  our 
day,  and  then  pass  on  and  up  to  the  Judgment  of  the  great  God !  Then 
should  we  not  watch?  ought  we  not  to  be  ready?  lest  suddenly  coming  He 
find  us  sleeping ! 

Man  knoweth  not  his  time !  but  certain  it  is,  that  here,  on  earth,  where^ 
ver  found  he  is  all  incident  to  suffering — exposed  to  calamity  and  danger 
= — the  sure  victim  of  coming  dissolution,  aye  the  certain  trophy  of  Death  I 
His  leaden  fingers  shall  be  laid  upon  you  and  me,  chilling  the  pulsations 
of  life — His  arm  of  power  snail  be  by  us  felt,  breaking  the  golden  bowl  at 
the  fountain  I — we  shall  all  experience  his  wasting  influence,  changing 


21 

the  countenance  and  bidding  us  pass  from  Earth  to  the  Spirit  Land  !  but 
when  these  trials  shall  reach  us : — when  we  shall  each  in  our  lot  go  down 
before   the   puissant   arm   of  him,  who  breaks  the  sword  of  valor,  and 
takes  the  diadem  from  the  brow  of  kings — when  the  veil  shall  part  before 
jour  spirit's  eye  and  mine,  and  the  gales  of  eternity  shall  freshen  upon 
our  souls,  God  alone  knows  !     Sometimes  danger  and  death  show  them- 
selves in  the  distance,  and  with  slow  and  steady  step  gradually  approach, 
letting  us  know,  that  they  aim  at  us  and  ours,  and  that  their  office  and 
work  is  with  us ;  at  other  times  they  draw  nigh  wdth  steady  tread — noise- 
less, silent,  unperceived  they  gather  round  ;  their  presence  is  but  recog- 
nized in  their  attack^in  the  marks  of  their  desolation— in  the  affixing  of 
an  unchanging  seal  which  cannot  be  mistaken,  and  which  can  neither 
he  blotted  out,  nor  broken  I     All  ma}^  be  quiet  without,  and  calm  within  ; 
and  there  may  be  no  sense  of  danger,  and  no  fear— but  Death  is  there,  and 
sudden  destruction.    The  veil  of  Eternity  sometimes  parts  as  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye  and  the  soul  without  sign  or  token,  or  note  or  warning,  is 
in  the  spirit  land,  summoned  to  the  presence  of  God,  its  Infinite  Judge! 
Ah,  Friends  !  the  text  is  true,  "  Man  knoweth  not  his  time/^     The  sons  of 
men  are  oftentimes  snared  in  sudden  calamity  ;  there  is  an  awful,  a  fear-* 
ful  uncertainty  as  to  what  is  before  us,  when  w^e  shall  be  called  on  to  lay 
aside  these  vestments  of  mortality,  and  to  stand  before  Jehovah  God  our 
Judge  !     Then  is  it  not  wise  ?— would  it  not  be  well  to  have  our  prepara- 
tion work  well  and  early  done,  that  we  may  stand  ready,  and  waiting  for 
the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man  ?     "  Man  knoweth  not  his  Time^as  the  fish 
are  taken  in  a  net,  as  the  birds  are  caught  in  a  snare,  so  are  the  sons  of 
men  snared  in  an  evil  when  it  falleth  suddenly  upon  them/'     My  Text 
has  been  selected,  and  the  train  of  thought  just  indulged  in,  suggested) 
1  ty  one  of  those  fearful  incidents  of  life  which  alike  startle  and  appall ! 
Tidings  of  them  fall  not  listlessly  on  human  ears,  they  fail  not  deeply, 
and  painfully  to  affect  human  hearts  I     It  is  no  ordinary  death  scene  that 
we  chronicle  ;  nor  is  it  the  departure  from  the  scenes  of  time  of  any  ordi- 
nary man,  that  we  have  met  in  the  Sanctuary  to  meditate  upon !     Elisha 
Mitchell  !  the  loved  and  venerated— -the  astute  and  wise— ^the  man  of 
God  and  Christian  Minister,  lies  low  in  death  !      He  is  no  more  of  earthy 
for  God  hath  taken  him  up  to  the  scenes  of  the  spiritual)  and  caused  him 
to  mingle  in  the  realities  of  the  eternal  world !     His  family  are  bereft  of 
their  Head — no  more  shall  he  guide  them  by  his  counsels,  nor  at  morning 
and  evening  lead  their  devotions ; — the  temple  of  Science  has  had  extin- 
y;ui6hed  in  him  one  of  its  living  lights,  and  taken  down  and  removed  is 
one  of  its  stalwart  pillars  I    The  Church  of  God  and  its  courts  have  in  him 
lost  an  advocate — a  judicious  counsellor^  and  prized  presbyter!     His  seat 
o 


22 

at  the  family  table,  in  the  hall  of  Science,  and  within  the  Sanctuary  of 
God,  have  alike  been  vacated  by  the  sad  event  vrhich  has  convened  us, 
and  which  we  are  endeavoring  spiritually  to  improve  !  His  agency  as 
father,  friend,  and  instructor,  and  Christian  Minister  has  ceased  ;  and  no 
more  shall  we  enjoy  his  converse,  weigh  his  counsels,  or  go  with  him  up 
to  the  House  of  God !  Ye  reckon  it  in  days  since  some  of  you  enjoyed  his 
sunny  smile  and  kind  hearted  converse,  and  communion  !  When  last 
with  him,  aye  when  last  seen  of  mortal  vision,  he  was  full  of  life — as 
buoyant  with  hope,  and  had  as  bright  promise  of  future  years  and  useful- 
ness, as  had  any  of  you^  or  your  race !  but  he  is  not — his  summons  was 
sudden — fearfully  sudden  !  Yours  may  be  as  sudden,  and  not  as  safe  1 
He  died  emphatically  alone !  Neither  wife  nor  brother  nor  son  nor  friend 
nor  man  was  near  I  Amid  mountain  fastnesses,  under  laurel  shades,  and 
with  unceasing  sound  of  moaning  pines  and  rushing  waters,  furnishing 
an  appropriate  requiem,  alone  and  without  human  aid  or  sympathy,  he 
breathed  out  his  life.  Except  for  efforts  the  most  patient  and  untiring  on 
the  part  of  the  community,  his  death  as  to  its  place,  and  means,  and  time^ 
would  have  remained  a  mystery  ;  his  grave  would  have  been  unknown  and 
his  body  unsepultured.  There  is  something,  at  once  grand  and  fearful  in 
such  a  death  !  Far  from  human  habitation — amid  the  solitude  of  nature 
— her  works  there  on  the  grandest  scale — it  brings  up  those  mounts  of 
God  mentioned  in  the  Scripture,  Pisgah  and  Nebo,  and  suggests  the  death 
scene  of  the  "  Ruler  of  His  people  "  as  connected  therewith — Angels  per- 
formed the  dying  offices  of  the  one,  nor  is  it  vain  speculation  to  suppose 
that  in  needful  form  and  sympathy  they  were  present  with  the  other  ;  this 
sure  Word  of  God  informs  us  that  they  minister  to  the  heirs  of  salvation  1 
I  have  said  Dr.  Mitchell  was  alone  in  his  death — I  speak  of  earth  and 
of  man — I  except  angelic  influences,  and  the  presence  of  his  covenant  God 
and  Saviour  !  He  who  stamped  grandeur  on  those  mountains,  and  marked 
out  a  channel  for  those  pure  and  crystal  waters  did  not  in  that  hour  de- 
sert His  servant  but  was  near  him  and  around  him  !  Do  I  say  too  much  ? 
what  says  the  Scripture  ?  "  as  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem, 
so  Jehovah  is  round  about  them  that  fear  Him  " — What  says  God  him- 
self? "Fear  not  I  I  am  with  thee,  be  not  dismayed!  I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee  I"  Tell  me  not  of  accidents  I  Speak  not  to  me  of 
second  causes  !  God's  hand  was  in  the  startling  event,  as  it  is  in  all 
events.  He  designs  that  we  should  feel  it,  and  lay  it  to  heart,  and  wisely 
improve  it.  From  that  mountain  side  and  seething  pool  where  they  found 
him  tliere  cometli  a  voice  deep,  thrilling,  and  loud,  addressing  itself  to 
you,  and  me,  to  all!  Its  language  is  "  prepare  to  meet  thy  God!"  Who 
can  fail  to  realize,  if  he  will  throw  around  the  scene  one  lingering  thought. 


^o 


that  amid  these  frowning  precipices  and  impervious  shades  and  wildly 
dashing  waters,  and  with  death  at  hand,  it  was  far  more  important  to 
have  been  the  humble  child  of  God,  the  devoted  follower  of  Christ,  than  to 
have  been  the  man  of  gold,  or  of  distinction  and  fame,  or  even  a  sceptered 
king,  Avith  destitution  of  this  grace !  Ah  !  the  Avell  earned  fame,  the  dis- 
tinctions of  our  departed  friend  and  brother,  have  here  no  power  in  im- 
parting joy  and  comfort  to  those  who  loved  him  in  life,  and  to  whom  he  is 
doubly  dear  in  death ! — their  hope,  and  joy,  and  strong  consolation  is  bas- 
ed on  the  simple  fact  that  Dr.  Mitchell  laid  all  his  honors,  and  loved  to 
lay  them,  at  the  feet  of  Christ  and  around  Ilis  Cross  ! — that  there  he  hung 
his  hopes  of  Heaven— that  there  he  planted  his  expectations  of  Life  Ever- 
lastino; !  He  was  an  humble  child  of  God,  and  a  Christian  !  In  that  fact 
there  is  comfort,  joy,  strong  consolation !  When  father,  or  mother,  or 
child,  or  brother,  or  friend  passes  from  earth,  let  me  know  they  are  in 
Heaven,  and  among  the  blood-bought  and  ransomed,  and  I  cannot  unduly 
grieve  !  Who  would  call  them  back  from  their  rapt  scenes  of  angelic 
joy,  and  again  attach  the  chains  of  sense,  and  affix  the  stains  of  sin  to  their 
freed  and  pure  spirits/  Earth  is  fleeting  and  mingled  are  its  scenes — its 
joys  are  at  best  but  transient !  there  is  no  treasure  worth  securing,  save 
that  which  is  laid  up  in  Heaven !  Moral  victories  are  alone  worthy  the 
effort,  and  the  energy  of  the  deathless  spirit  of  man  ! 

"  Man  knoweth  not  his  time  and  the  sons  of  men  are  snared  in  an  evil 
when  it  cometh  suddenly  upon  them  I"  This  is  Truth,  and  it  teaches  us 
that  evil  oftentimes  comes  upon  us  in  an  hour  when  we  least  expect  its 
approach!  The  future  is  all  before  us,  and  we  must  meet  it;  but  its 
scenes  are  with  the  Deit}' — an  impenetrable  veil  covers  it  from  your  vision 
and  mine — we  tread  at  best  but  a  darkened  path,  and  know  not  our  time 
of  trial !  It  may  occur  in  our  happiest  hours,  and  amid  scenes  of  gushing 
joy  ;  the  cloud  may  gather  and  loom  up,  and  burst  within  an  hour  !  What 
reverses  have  been  witnessed  in  this  changing  world  between  the  rising 
of  the  sun  and  the  lengthening  of  its  shadows !  What,  as  in  the  present 
instance  between  the  going  down  of  that  orb  of  light  and  the  breaking  of 
the  day  !  Death  often  steals  on  dying  men  unheralded  —  no  note  of 
warning  precedes  his  approach  !  Some  whilst  pressed  with  care,  engros- 
sed with  business,  and  all  unprepared,  are  hurried  away — others  engaged 
in  the  pur^^uit  of  pleasure,  and  with  no  sense  of  danger,  suddenly  feel  his 
touch,  stilling  the  pulsations  of  life,  and  bidding  them  up  to  the  Judg- 
ment !  Some  in  life's  morning  and  the  hey-day  of  their  being,  as  they 
fondly  fancy,  with  the  world  all  before  them  !  Others  with  hoary  locks, 
and  shortened  steps  !  some  prepared  with  armor  on— with  loins  girt  about, 
and  their  lamps  trimmed  and  burning !     Others  amid  their  course  of  fjlly 


24 

— the  love  of  sin  iinslain,  and  depravity  burning  its  deep  and  corroding 
brand  within  the  soul !     Ah !  it  is  the  suddenness  of  scenes  like  these — it 
is  their  unexpectedness  to  the  individual,  which  makes  them  so  awful  and 
fearful !     Prepared  for  death — girded  for  the  judgment,  and  clad  in  those 
robes  of  righteousness,  which  alone  can  bear  its  living  light ;  a  sudden 
death  is  not  to  be  deprecated — with  the  love  of  God  within  the  soul,  and 
the  living  everlasting  Saviour  at  hand,  a  solitary  death  is  not  to  be  deplor- 
ed !   But  unprovisioned  for  eternity  how  fearful !  unprepared  for  the  solemn  . 
interview  with  God,  which  must  then  ensue,  how  tremendously  awful  is  a 
sudden  death  !     Who  would  appear  before  his  Maker  with  the  love  of  sin 
uppermost  in  his  soul — who  would  thus  appear,  even  united  to  Christ, 
with  the  world  clustering  around,  and  clasping  the  affections  of  the  heart  ? 
Not  so  !  Oh,  not  so,  would  he  that  is  wise  die !     How  lightly,  friends, 
should  we  esteem  the  thing  of  time,  and  what  priceless  value  should  we 
attach  to  the  interests  of  the  deathless  soul !      And  yet  poor  man,  in  his 
blindness  and  sin,  reverses  all  this  !     God  stoops,  and  invites  us  to  his 
arms,  and  to  his  heavenly  home,   but  too  many  busied  with  the  vanities  of 
earth,  and  eager  in  its  pursuits,  slight  those  rich  treasures  and  everlasting 
joys — turn  away  from  these  offers  of  life,  and  seek  an  heritage  for  time  ! 
Other  thoughts,  frier  ds,  crowd  upon  me,  but  I  must  hasten  !     I  trust 
you  see  and  feel  the  teachings  of  the  text,  enforced  as  they  are  by  the  fear- 
ful incident  which  convened  us  together.     "We  are  but  pilgrims  on  the 
shores  of  time  !     Sojourners  on  the  earth  as  were  our  fathers !     Here  we 
have  no  abiding  place — passengers  at  the  best,  we  walk  in  darkness,  un- 
der perils  and  in  great  suspense — the  future  is  all  Jiidden — we  know  not 
what   a   day   may   bring  forth !     Do  you  esteem   the   picture   dark  and 
gloomy  ?  and  ask  what  can  be  done  ?     I  answer,  trust  in  the  Lord  and  d(i 
good  !  thus  may  you  fill  up  your  lives  with  acts  of  usefulness,  and  deck 
them  with  deeds  of  Christian  honor  !     Thus  passing  away,  piety  shall  give 
you  the  tribute  of  tears ;  and  the  bosom  of  virtue  shall  send  forth  sighs  at 
your  decease!      Do  you  still  ask,  as  to  what  can  be  done.^     I  answer, 
make  Jehovah  God  in  Christ  your  refuge,  and  trust,  and  then  it  shall  be 
well  with  you,  well  with  your  soul!     "He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret 
place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty." 
It  is  your  privilege  so  to  live,  and  so  to  bind  the  hopes  of  the  gospel  of 
•Jesus  Christ  to  the  heart,  that  you  may  dread  the  grave  as  little  as  your 
bed !     Here  is  the  Bible  of  God — the  great  moral  light  which  teaches  Je- 
hovah's will — presents  the  provisions  of  His  mercy ;  with  its  truths  re- 
ceived— with  its  remedies  embraced — with  its  Saviour  believed  in,  and  trus- 
ted on,  you  have  a  stay  which  shall  avail  amid  the  conflicts  of  time — more  ! 
it  shall  cheer  you  as  you  go  down  under  the  power  of  Death's  arm — light- 


25 

ing  up  the  grave  and  dispelling  forever  all  its  fearful  shadows  !  Earth  is 
changing  !  but  Heaven  is  stable  and  sure  !  Fix  your  affections  there  !  and 
now  from  that  solitary  place  in  the  wilderness  where  my  Brother  breathed 
out  his  life,  and  passed  from  earth  ;  aye  from  that  bier  on  which  now  lie 
his  mortal  remains,  there  cometh  a  voice  addressed  to  you,  to  me,  to  all 
present — and  yet  it  singles  us  out  and  addresses  us  each,  and  its  language 
is,  "  Be  ye  also  ready  for  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  !  prepare  to  meet 
God  !"  Obey  this  voice,  and  your  death  scene  shall  be  peaceful  as  are  an- 
gelic slumbers,  and  your  eternity  shall  be  passing  happy,  and  supremely 
blissful  as  of  the  riches  of  Jehovah's  grace  !  Thus  prepared  and  panopli- 
ed, when  you  come  to  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  you 
shall  have  the  rod  and  the  staff,  the  presence  of  Him,  who  is  the  Resur- 
rection and  the  Life. 


PUBLIC  MEETINGS. 


MEETING  AT  ASHEVILLE. 

From  tilt  Asheville  News,  July  16. 

It  having  been  announced  in  Asheville,  on  Wednesday  morning,  8th 
July,  instant,  that  the  dead  body  of  Professor  Elisha  Mitchell,  of  Chapel 
Hill,  had  been  discovered  in  the  vicinit}"  of  the  Black  Mountain ;  pursuant 
to  a  short  notice,  a  large  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Buncombe  county  and 
many  others  from  a  distance,  met  in  the  Court  House  at  5  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  when,  on  motion  of  Z.  B.  Vance,  Esq.,  Rev. 
Jarvis  Buxton  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  meeting. 

Mr.  Buxton,  on  taking  the  chair,  made  some  feeling  and  appropriate  re- 
marks, explanatory  of  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  upon  the  services 
and  character  of  Professor  Mitchell  in  his  relations  to  the  University,  also 
as  a  man  in  his  social  and  domestic  relations,  and  as  a  christian  gentle- 
man. He  said  he  knew  the  deceased  well,  having  been  a  member  of  his 
household  while  a  student  at  College,  and  that  to  know  him  was  to  love 
him. 

On  motion,  John  D.  Hyman  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  meeting. 

W.  M.  Shipp,  Esq.,  after  prefacing  with  a  few  remarks,  in  which  he 
bore  testimony  to  the  exalted  character  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  his  eminent 
services  in  his  devotion  to  Science  and  Education,  offered  the  following 
resolutions,  expressing  a  desire  that  they  would  be  adopted  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  we  have  heard,  with  the  most  profound  regret,  the 
announcement  which  has  just  been  made,  of  the  sad  and  melancholy  death 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mitchell,  of  the  University  of  this  State. 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  the  University  has  lost 
one  of  its  most  tried  friends  ;  the  Faculty  one  of  its  most  zealous  votai-ies ; 
and  the  church  of  God  one  of  its  most  faithful  ministers. 

3.  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  it  would  be  highly  ap- 
propriate— should  it  meet  the  approbation  of  his  family — that  the  remains 
of  the  deceased  be  deposited  upon  some  eligible  point  of  the  Black  Moun- 
tain ;  a  place  with  which  his  name  has  been  connected  for  many  years,  as 
the  first  to  call  public  attention  to  its  superiority  in  height  to  any  point 
in  the  United  States,  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

4.  Resolved,  That,  in  our  opinion,  no  more  suitable  testimonial  of  re- 
spect to  the  memory  of  the  deceased  could  be  given,  than  the  erection  of 


27 

an  appropriate  monument  upon  the  mountain,  with  which  his  name  and 
sad  fate  are  so  intimately  associated ;  and,  to  carry  out  this  purpose,  we 
ask  the  assistance  of  all  good  citizens  of  the  State  and  the  friends  of  edu- 
cation and  science  generally. 

5.  Resolved,  That  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  we  extend  our  heartfelt 
condolence,  and  the  Chairman  of  this  meeting  appoint  a  committee  of  three 
persons  to  convey  to  them  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  and  express  our 
sympathy  in  their  bereavement. 

6.  Eesolced,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  forwarded  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  University,  with  a  request  that  he  convey  to  the  Faculty  and 
Students  our  deep  sympathy  in  the  great  loss  they  have  sustained  in  the 
death  of  their  oldest  member  and  most  experienced  instructor. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  appoint  a  committee  of  six  to  take  such 
steps  as  they  may  think  advisable  to  carry  out  the  object  of  the  4th  reso- 
lution. 

8.  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  published  in  the  Ashe- 
ville  papers,  and  that  the  papers  of  the  State  general^  be  requested  to 
copy. 

Hon.  Thos.  L.  Clingman  said  he  approved  of  the  resolutions  and  hoped 
they  would  be  adopted.  He  added  his  testimony  to  the  eminent  services 
of  Professor  Mitchell  in  his  explorations  of  this  section  of  th^  State,  both 
in  regard  to  its  topography  and  geology. 

Rev.  Dr.  Chapman  made  some  eloquent  and  touching  remarks  in  rela- 
tion to  the  sad  calamity  that  had  called  the  meeting  together, 

Z.  B.  Yance,  Esq.,  being  called  upon,  narrated  the  circumstances,  as  far 
as  they  had  been  ascertained,  that  attended  the  death  of  Professor  Mitch- 
ell. He  also  said  that  great  credit  was  due  to  a  large  number  of  gentle- 
men, principally  persons  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Black  Mountain, 
for  their  untiring  exertions  to  recover  the  body  of  the  deceased. 

On  motion  the  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

In  accordance  with  the  5th  resolution,  the  Chairman  appointed  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  as  the  committee :  Rev.  Dr.  Chapman,  AVm.  M.  Shipp 
and  James  W.  Patton,  Esq'rs.  On  motion,  the  name  of  the  Chairman  was 
added  to  the  list. 

In  pursuance  of  the  7th  resolution,  the  Chairman  appointed  the  follow- 
ing committee :  Messrs.  A.  S.  Merrimon,  David  Coleman,  Z.  B.  Vance, 
John  A,  Dickson,  W.  M.  Shipp,  and  James  A.  Patton. 

On  motion  of  A.  S.  Merrimon,  Esq.,  the  Chairman  appointed  twenty 
persons  to  superintend  the  conveying  of  the  body  of  the  deceased  to  its 
place  of  burial.  The  following  persons  were  appointed :  Z.  B.  Yance,  A. 
S.  Merrimon,  J.  A.  Patton,  R.M.  Henry,  Thadaeus  Coleman,  G.  W.  Whitson, 


28 

James  Gaines,  D.  F.  Summey,  A.  Burgin,  W.  M.  Hardy,  W.  A.  Patton, 
J.  E.  Patton,  J.  D.  Hyman,  S.  C.  Bryson,  "W.  Morrison,  T.  A.  Corpening, 
and  T.  B.  Boyd. 

On  motion  the  meeting  adjourned. 

JAR  VIS  BUXTON,  Chairman. 

Joax  D.  Hymax,  Secretary. 


MEETING  AT  CHAPEL  HILL. 

From  the  Chapel  Hill  Gazette,  July  13. 

Upon  Friday  the  10th  instant  very  painful  rumors  of  the  sudden  death 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mitehell,  on  Black  Mountain,  reached  Chapel  Hill.  On 
Saturday  these  rumors  received  some  confirmation,  and  upon  Sunday  even- 
ing all  doubt  was  removed  by  intelligence  that  his  body  had  been  found 
floating  in  the  Cat-tail  Fork  of  Caney  River,  in  the  county  of  Yancey,  at  a 
point  where  the  water  was  about  twelve  feet  in  depth ;  circumstances  ren- 
dering it  very  probable  that  he  had  fallen  some  forty  feet,  from  a  preci- 
pice overhanging  the  river.  His  hand  still  clasped  a  broken  branch  of 
Laurel. 

Dr.  Mitchell  had  been  busily  engaged  for  several  days  in  making  Baro- 
metrical and  Trigonometrical  observations  upon  Black  Mountain.  On 
Saturday,  the  27th  of  June,  he  had  nearly  completed  these  labors.  During 
that  day  he  separated  from  his  son  in  order  to  visit  Caney  River  Settle- 
ment, making  an  appointment  to  meet  him  the  next  Monday  at  the  Moun- 
tain House.  He  was  not  seen  again,  and  it  was  only  after  several  day's 
search  by  many  citizens  in  that  vicinity,  carried  on  with  ardor  and  sym- 
pathy which  do  them  great  honor,  that  his  body  was  found  on  Tuesday 
evening,  the  7th  of  July,  as  is  above  described.  It  is  understood  that  he 
was  interred  at  Asheville  on  the  10th  instant. 

Upon  receiving  the  above  intelligence,  the  citizens  held  a  full  and  solemn 
town-meeting  in  the  University  Chapel.  On  motion  of  David  L.  Swain, 
Edward  Mallett,  Magistrate  of  Police,  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and  Jones 
Watson,  Esq.,  was  appointed  Secretary. 

The  Chairman  announced  that  in  anticipation  of  such  a  meeting,  he  had 
appointed  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  who  providentially  was  with  us  upon  this 
occasion,  together  with  Samuel  F.  Phillips  Esq.,  a  Committee  to  prepare 
resolutions  for  the  consideration  of  the  meeting. 

Dr.  Hawks  then  arose,  and  gracefully  alluding  to  his  own  deep  interest 
in  the  community  amidst  which  he  had  received  his  early  education,  con- 
tinued in   a  few  eloquent  and  touching  observations  upon  the  occasion 


29 

which  had  called  forth  this  display  of  feeling,  and  then  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolutions : — 

"  Whereas,  It  has  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father,  in  His  wise  Providence, 
to  take  unto  Himself  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  late  Professor  of  Chemistry 
and  Geology  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina ;  we  the  inhabitants  of 
Chapel  Hill,  convened  in  town  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  testifying  our 
respect  for  the  memory  of  a  good  man,  who  has  gone  to  his  reward, — 
leaving  it  to  his  associates  to  render  their  appropriate  tribute  to  his  ^vell 
.  known  scientific  character,  desire  to  speak  as  his  fellow  citizens,  and  bear- 
ing our  willing  testimony  to  his  worth  as  a  man,  have 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  our  whole  community  has 
sustained  a  loss  not  easily  repaired,  in  the  removal  of  one  who,  resident  in 
this  village  for  forty  years,  has,  during  that  period,  fulfilled  all  the  duties 
of  an  enlighted,  public-spirited  citizen,  with  the  most  exemplary  proprie- 
ty, illustrating  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation  the  christian  principle 
by  which  his  life  was  regulated. 

Resolved,  That  in  no  one  particular  has  his  example  been  more  striking 
than  in  his  universal  kindness  to  the  poor  and  suffering.  Ever  ready  to 
help  his  fellow  creatures,  and  mindful  that  his  Master  went  about  doing 
good,  while  he  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  blind  and  erring, 
he  was  no  less  prompt  in  alleviating  bodily  misery  :  and  the  poor  of  Chapel 
Hill  and  its  vicinity,  who  have  been  partakers  of  his  silent  and  unostenta- 
tious benevolence,  will  especially  have  cause  long  to  treasure  up  the  me- 
mory of  their  departed  friend  and  benefactor. 

Resolved,  That  our  whole  community,  of  all  classes,  gratefully  recogniz- 
ing the  worth  of  an  eminently  good  man  now  removed  from  among  us,  and 
submitting,  in  humble  faith  to  the  dispensation  of  the  Gracious  God  who 
has  seen  fit  thus  to  visit  us  with  sorrow ;  do  tender  our  Christian  sympa- 
thy and  love  to  the  bereaved  family  of  our  departed  friend ;  and  mingling 
our  smaller  sorrow  with  their  more  grievous  and  heavy  affliction,  do  com- 
mend them  in  our  prayers  to  the  merciful  goodness  of  that  everlasting 
God  whose  chastenings  to  his  children  are  but  proofs  of  his  afiection. 

Resolved,  That  the  individuals  composing  this  meeting  will,  as  a  mark 
of  respect  for  the  memory  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourn- 
ing, on  the  left  arm,  for  thirty  days. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  duly  certified  by  the  officers^ 
of  this  meeting,  be  communicated  to  the  family  of  Dr.  Mitchell. 

These  were  seconded  by  President  Swain  who  dwelt  in  terms  of  strong 
eulogy  upon  the  long  public  services  of  the  deceased,  lamentingover  a  loss 
which  to  himself,  he  added,  was  irreparable. 

Other  remarks,  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  were  made  by  Messrs.  S.  F. 


30 

Phillips,  Sidney  Smith,  Charles  Phillips  and  Jones  Watson.  Thereupon 
the  Resolutions  were  passed  unanimously. 

Upon  motion  of  S.  F.  Phillips,  the  persons  present  went  in  procession 
to  the  residence  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  in  order  to  present  in  person  to  his  fami- 
y,  the  resolutions  that  had  been  adopted.  This  having  been  done,  the 
meeting  adjourned. 

All  the  stores  and  other  places  of  business  of  our  town  were  closed  and 
^11  business  suspended,  during  the  meeting. 


MEETING  AT  FATETTEYILT.E. 

rrom  the  Argus,  July  18. 

DEATH  OF  PROF.  MITCHELL, 

This  great  man  is  no  more.  By  his  death  the  cause  of  science  has  sus- 
tained an  irreparable  loss — Chapel  Hill  one  of  its  strong  pillars — and 
North  Carolina  one  of  her  noblest  sons. 

As  will  be  seen  below,  he  came  to  his  death  among  those  mountains 
which  had  so  long  been  the  subject  of  his  investigation — a  martyr  to  sci- 
-ence. 

Prof.  Mitchell  has  occupied  the  position  of  Professor  in  our  University 
for  thirty  years  or  more,  and  has  during  that  period,  established  his  repu- 
tation as  one  of  the  very  first  scholars  in  the  country. 

We  learn  from  the  Standard  that  a  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain  has 
been  selected  for  the  burial  of  Dr.  Mitchell.  This  we  are  rejoiced  to  know. 
No  place  could  be  more  fitting  for  the  last  renting  place  of  the  illustrious 
dead,  than  those  grand  and  magnificent  Mountains  that  were  so  long  the 
object  of  his  study.  No  more  suitable  monument  could  be  reared  to  his 
memory  which  must  endure  as  long  as  Mountains  stand. 

We  append  the  following  Resolutions  which  were  passed  in  this  town, 
•by  the  resident  graduates  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina. 

A  meeting  of  graduates  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  residing  in 
.and  near  Fayetteville  was  held  on  Tuesday,  July  14,  1857,  W.  J.  Ander- 
son, Esq.,  presiding,  and  Mr.  Geo.  H.  Haigh  acting  as  Secretary. 

The  Chairman  having  announced  the  melancholy  intelligence  on  account 
of  which  they  had  been  called  together, 

Messrs.  W.  B.  Wright,  John  Winslow,  W.  A.  Huske,  W.  II.  Haigh,  J. 
€.  Huske,  R.  P.  Buxton,  P.  M.  Hale,  R.  H.  Sandford,  and  B.  Fuller,  rep- 
resenting difierent  classes,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  resolu- 
tions suitable  for  the  occasion. 

Whekeas,  Almighty  God,  by  a  painful  and  most  melancholy  act  of  his 


31 

Providence,  has  brought  to  a  sudden  and  sad  end  the  life  of  our  former 
respected  preceptor  and  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell,  Professor  in 
the  University  of  N.  C. : 

Therefore,  Kesolved,  That  we  have  received  intelligence  of  this  most 
mournful  event  with  feelings  of  pain  and  unmingled  sadness. 

Resolved,  That  as  in  his  life  we  have  have  been  made  debtors  to  him  by 
his  faithful  instructions  and  by  his  unwearied  devotion  to  our  best  inter- 
ests, so  now  in  his  death  we  cherish  his  memory  in  our  hearts. 

Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell,  by  his  great  and  varied 
learning,  by  his  indefatigable  zeal  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  his  spirit 
of  invincible  perseverance  in  whatever  he  deemed  to  be  right,  by  his  devo- 
tion to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  whether  as  a  teacher  of  science  or  as  a 
teach<^r  of  the  religion  ot  the  Gospel,  by  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
pupils,  to  the  interests  of  the  University  of  which  he  was  so  distinguished 
a  Professor,  and  by  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  State  at  large,  and 
in  a  word,  by  a  long,  honorable,  and  useful  life  of  incorruptible  integrity 
and  fidelity  to  duty,  has  made  himself  to  be  an  ornament  and  an  example 
to  his  profession  and  to  his  fellow  men  in  general. 

Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  eminent  services  which  he  has  rendered 
the  State,  direcili/,  by  the  prompt  and  faithful  discharge  of  particular  du- 
ties assigned  him,  and  less  directly,  but  not  less  effectively  by  his  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  education,  the  deceased  has  entitled  himself  to  a  public 
testimonial  of  respect  to  his  memory  ;  and  we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to 
assist  in  any  measure  tending  to  that  end. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased,  with  an  expression  of  our  sincerest  sympathy  and  condo- 
lence ;  and  also,  that  a  copy  be  sent  to  his  brethren  of  the  Faculty,  and  to 
each  of  the  Literary  Societies  at  Chapel  Hill,  with  the  request  that  they 
be  filed  in  their  archives. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

W.  J.  ANDERSON,  Chairman. 

George  H.  Haigh,  Secretary. 


MEETING  AT  GEEENSBOEO'.    "^ 

From  the  Times,  August  23. 

A  MEETING  of  former  pupils  and  friends  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  resident  in 
Greensboro  and  vicinity,  was  held  in  the  Court  House  on  Monday  evening 
last,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  public  expression  to  their  feelings  of  grief 
and  sympathy,  excited  by  the  painful  intelligence  of  his  death. 


32 

Hon.  James  T.  Morehead  was  called  to  the  Chair  on  motion  of  John  H. 
Coble,  and  on  motion  of  R.  M.  Sloan.  Jr.,  Charles  E.  Shober,  Esq.,  was 
appointed  Secretary. 

On  taking  the  chair,  Mr.  Morehead  addressed  the  meeting  appropriate- 
ly and  feelingly  upon  the  mournful  subject  which  had  called  it  together. 
He  was  a  student  at  the  University  when  Dr.  Mitchell  first  became  con- 
nected with  it,  and  had  known  him  intimately  ever  since.  He  was  there- 
fore well  qualified  by  length  of  acquaintance  to  speak  of  him. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Wiley,  the  chairman  appointed  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Ralph  Gorrell,  Esq.,  R.  P.  Dick,  Esq.,  Jesse  H.  Lindsay,  Sr., 
W.  L.  Scott,  Esq.,  J.  A.  Long,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  C.  H.  Wiley,  to  prepare 
resolutions  expressive  of  the  sentiments  of  the  meeting.  The  committee 
retired,  and  after  a  brief  absence,  reported  through  their  chairman  Rev. 
C.  H.  Wiley,  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolutions : 

Whereas,  we  have  heard  of  the  recent  death  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitch- 
ell, D.  D.,  late  Professor  in  the  University  of  our  State,  under  circumstan- 
ces peculiarly  sad  and  startling,  and  well  calculated  to  excite  the  tender- 
est  interest  and  sympathy  on  the  part  of  every  lover  of  science,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  have  received  the  tidings  of  this  melancholy  event 
with  emotions  of  profound  sorrow,  cherishing  as  we  do  a  lively  recollec- 
tion of  the  many  amiable  qualities,  of  the  great  and  varied  acquirements, 
and  of  the  long,  laborious  and  useful  services  of  our  lamented  friend  and 
instructor. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  death  of  Prof.  Mitchell  as  a  public  calami- 
ty, long  identified  as  he  has  been  with  the  progress  of  science  and  scien- 
tific improvements  in  North  Carolina,  devoted  to  her  interests  and  her 
honor,  and  for  many  years  an  invaluable  member  of  the  Faculty  of  her 
University,  which  is  greatly  indebted  to  his  zeal,  his  learning  and  his  in- 
dustry for  its  eminent  success  and  illustrious  character. 

Resolved,  That  we  cordially  respond  to  the  suggestion  that  some  fitting 
and  lasting  monument  to  the  memory  and  character  of  the  deceased 
should  be  erected  among  those  stupendous  scenes  amid  which  he  fell  a 
Martyr  to  the  cause  of  Science,  and  that,  to  this  end,  we  will  contribute 
of  our  means  and  influence. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased  with  the  expression  of  our  sincerest  condolence  and  sympathy, 
and  that  copies  also  be  sent  to  the  Faculty  of  the  University  and  to  each  of 
the  Literary  Societies,  with  a  request  that  they  be  entered  on  the  records 
of  the  University  and  filed  in  the  archives  of  the  Societies. 

Mr.  Wiley  accompanied  the  report  of  the  resolutions  with  a  few  re- 
marks mainly  explanatory  of  the  manner  of  Dr.  Mitchell's  death  as  he 


33 

had  received  it  from  a  resident  of  the  region  of  country  where  the  painful 
casualty  occurred,  and  then  the  resohitions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Julius  Gorrell,  Esq.,  the  newspapers  of  the  town  were  re- 
quested to  publish  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting,  and  then,  on  motion,  it 

was  adjourned. 

JAMES  T.  MOREIIEAD,  Chairman. 

Charles  H.  Shober,  Secretary. 


MEETING  AT  WILMINGTOJSr. 

From  the  Wilmington  Herald,  August  5. 

AccoRDiXG  to  previous  notice,  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  former  Students, 
and  Alumni  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  was  held  in  the  Court 
House  in  the  town  of  Wilmington  on  the  29th  of  July,  1857. 

On  motion  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  D. 
Taylor  requested  to  act  as  Secretary. 

The  object  of  the  meeting  was  explained  in  a  few  feeling  and  appropri- 
ate remarks  by  George  Davis,  Esq.,  who  also  moved  the  appointment  of 
three  to  draw  up  suitable  resolutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  meet- 
ing. Whereupon  George  Davis,  Esq.,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Deems  and  Eli  W. 
Hall,  Esq.,  were  appointed  by  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  through  their  chairman,  Dr.  Deems,  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

AVhereas,  the  whole  State  of  North  Carolina  has  recently  been  called 
to  mourn  the  sudden  and  violent  close  of  the  life  of  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell, 
D.  D.,  Senior  Professor  in  the  University,  and  whereas  no  other  section  of 
the  State  can  furnish  a  larger  proportionate  number  of  those  who  have 
enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  the  eminent  deceased,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Trustees  and  former  Students  and  Alumni  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  friends  of  science  and  of  the  late 
Prof.  Mitchell,  assembled  in  Wilmington,  do  sincerely  sympathise  with  the 
general  grief  which  his  death  has  spread  over  the  country ;  that  his  great 
abilities,  vast  acquirements,  and  indomitable  industry,  while  they  combin- 
ed to  present  in  him  a  model  to  the  young  men  of  the  land,  did  much  to- 
wards the  elevation  of  the  University  of  our  State  to  that  lofty  position 
which  it  maintains  among  the  very  first  institutions  of  learning  in  Ameri- 
ca ;  that  his  contributions  to  general  science  have  given  him  a  respectable 
place  among  the  most  learned,  and  his  special  devotion  to  the  development 
(if  all  the  physical  resources  of  North  Carolina  has  laid  the  State  under 
obligations  which  the  gratitude  of  many  a  generation  will  scarcely  avail 
to  cancel. 


84 

Resolved,  That  we  will  unite  in  whatever  plan  the  authorities  of  the 
University  mav  adopt  to  perpetuate  the  excellent  memory  of  him  whose 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Institution  through  more  than  the  ordinary 
time  of  a  generation  has  entitled  his  name  to  be  held  in  reverential  re- 
membrance. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  to  the  family  of 
the  late  Dr.  Mitchell,  with  the  expression  of  the  most  sincere  and  tender 
sympathy  of  this  assembl3^ 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  furnished  to  the  Presi- 
sident  and  Faculty  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  and  our  condol- 
ence with  them  at  the  great  social  and  official -breach  made  in  their  ranks 
by  the  recent  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence. 

Resolved^  That  these  proceedings  be  published  in  all  the  papers  in 
Wilmington. 

Dr.  Deems,  after  offering  the  resolutions,  paid  an  eloquent  and  touching 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  testifying  from  his  intimate  asso- 
ciation with  him  as  a  colleague,  friend,  and  neighbor,  to  his  many  gene- 
rous traits  of  character  and  kindness  and  benevolence  of  heart. 

On  motion  of  James  C.  Smith,  Esq.,  the  meeting  then  adjourned. 

THOMAS  11.  WRIGHT,  Chairman, 

John  D.  Taylor,  Secretary. 


TESTIMONIALS  OF  RESPECT. 


RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

Raleigh,  July  4,  1857. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity, at  the  Executive  office  in  this  Citj  on  the  4th  inst.,  the  following 
proceedings  were  had : — 

His  Excellency  Governor  Bragg  having  officially  communicated  intelli- 
gence of  the  recent,  sudden,  aud  melancholy  death  of  the  Rev'd  Dr.  Elisha 
Mitchell,  late  Professor  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology  in  the 
University,  the  Executive  Committee,  in  view  of  his  character  as  a  Chris- 
tian gentleman  ;  of  his  arduous,  long  continued  and  inestimable  services 
in  the  Academic  corps,  and  his  distinguished  position  for  the  last  forty 
years  as  a  member  of  the  Faculty,  in  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of 
the  College  ;  in  view  of  his  eminent  attainments  in  literature  and  science  ; 
his  ardent  patriotism  and  public  services ;  consider  the  present  a  fit  occa- 
sion to  express  their  unanimous  sentiment  of  true  condolence  and  sympa- 
thy with  the  widow  and  family  of  the  deceased,  with  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  College,  and  the  people  of  the  whole  State,  at  the  sad  and 
overwhelming  bereavement  which  we  have  all  sustained  ;  and  in  the  name 
and  on  behalf  of  the  whole  body  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University,  this 
Committee  will  cordially  unite  with  other  associations  and  individuals  in 
paying  enduring  honor  to  his  memory. 

Resolved,  That  the  half  year's  salary  of  the  professor,  for  the  residue  of 
the  present  fiscal  year,  be  paid  by  the  acting  Bursar  of  the  College  to  the 
widow  of  the  deceased,  and  that  her  family  be  permitted  (if  she  so  desires 
it)  to  continue  the  occupation  of  her  present  residence  until  the  close  of 
this  year. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  proceedings  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  widow  of  the  deceased. 

In  consideration  of  the  vacancy  occurring  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell, 
in  the  Professorship  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  and  the  Bur- 
sar's Bureau  at  the  beginning  of  the  session  just  commencing: 

Resolved,  That  to  enable  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  till  these  places  per- 
manently, with  judgment  and  discretion,  the  President  of  the  University, 
Gov.  Swain,  be  authorized  and  requested,  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
Faculty  to  distribute  the  various  duties  of  these  several  offices  among  such 


36 

members  of  the  Faculty  as  may  be  willing  to  undertake  them,  and,  if  ne- 
cessary, to  appoint  one  or  more  tutors.  That  such  temporary  arrangements 
shall  be  in  force  for  and  during  the  present  session  only;  or,  for  such 
shorter  peried  as  the  Board  of  Trustees  or  this  Committee  shall  hereafter 
determine. 

Test :  CHAS.  MANLY,  Sec'y. 


RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  FACULTY. 

Chapel  Hill,  July  17,  1857. 

At  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Universit}",  after  a 
solemn  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  the  following  paper  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

TVhereas,  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  Faculty  of  the  University,  an 
All-Wise  God  has  been  pleased^  by  a  dispensation  the  more  distressing  be- 
cause unexpected,  to  take  unto  Himself  the  oldest  member  of  our  Body, 
the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and 
Geology: — bowing  in  humble  submission  to  this  sad  bereavement,  We, 
the  Faculty  of  the  University,  desiring  to  bear  our  testimony  to  the  worth 
of  our  departed  companion  and  friend,  and  endaringly  to  record  our  tri- 
bute to  his  memory,  have  unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  lamented  death  of  our  late  associate  we  feel  that 
the  Institution  to  which  we  belong  has  lost  one  of  the  most  valuable  ofii- 
cers  she  ever  possessed  ;  and  that  in  the  devotion  of  forty  years  to  her 
service  his  zeal  never  slackened,  his  diligence  never  relaxed,  his  faithful- 
ness never  slumbered  ;  but  during  all  that  long  period,  ripening  constant- 
ly in  experience,  he  consecrated  his  best  faculties  and  varied  attainments  to 
the  advancement  of  the  usefulness  and  honor  of  the  Institution  of  which 
he  was  so  distinguished  an  ornament 

Resolved,  That  we  cannot  but  feel  also  the  loss  that  Science  has  sustain- 
<^d  in  the  removal  of  our  departed  friend.  Pursuing  it  in  various  depart- 
ments and  not  unsuccessful  in  any  that  he  attempted,  the  rich  and  varied 
vStores  of  his  well  cultivated  mind  gave  to  him,  deservedly,  a  celebrity  that, 
reaching  beyond  the  limits  of  this  his  immediate  sphere  of  action,  secured 
to  his  name  and  opinions  a  weight  of  authority  that  was  felt  and  acknow- 
ledged by  the  scientific  throughout  our  land;  and  in  the  midst  of  our  re- 
grets it  affords  us  a  melancholy  satisfaction  to  reflect  that  he  met  his  death 
in  the  cause  of  Science,  and  thus,  in  appropriate  keeping  with  the  duties 
of  his  life  has,  in  his  death,  added  his  name  to  the  list  of  her  honored 
martyrs. 


37 

Resolved,  That  our  loss  is  in  our  view  more  sorrowful  still  when  we 
think  of  him  as  the  christian  gentleman,  whose  heart  overflowing  with  the 
tenderest  sympathies  of  humanity,  made  him  the  ever  beneficent  friend  of 
the  poor  ajad  wretched ;  as  the  minister  of  our  Holy  Faith,  dispensing  the 
precious  truths  of  eternal  life  to  the  sinful  and  wayward  ;  as  the  watchful 
friend  and  faithful  guardian  of  the  young,  by  whom  he  was  surrounded, 
ever  ready  to  speak  to  them  in  gentleness  and  love,,  the  wise  words  of 
warning  and  counsel ;  as  the  intimate  companion  and  associate  of  our- 
selves, whose  presence  brought  experience  to  our  deliberations,  and  the 
cheerful  playfulness  of  innocent  mirth  to  our  social  intercourse. 

Resolved,  That  this  our  faint  tribute  to  the  worth  of  Dr.  Mitchell  be  re- 
corded on  our  Minutes  and  that  a  copy  thereof  be  communicated  to  the 
family  by  the  Secretary  ;  accompanied  with  the  assurance  of  the  deep  con- 
dolence and  the  heart-felt  sympathy  of  every  member  of  the  Faculty. 

Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips  be  requested  to  deliver  in  the 
Chapel  of  the  University,  on  Sunday  next,  an  appropriate  Funeral  dis- 
course and  that  the  President  of  the  University  himself  be  respectfully  de- 
sired to  prepare  and  pronounce  before  the  University  an  Eulogy  on  our 
deceased  brother,  at  such  time  as  may  suit  his  convenience. 


RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  STUDENTS. 

Chapel  Hill,  July  22,  1857. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Students  held  in  Girard  Hall,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  Profes- 
sor of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology. 

Whereas,  The  All-wise  God  as  part  of  his  inscrutable  dealings  with 
men  has  seen  fit  to  call  our  beloved  and  honored  preceptor,  Dr.  Mitchell, 
from  a  life  of  labor  and  usefulness  ; 

Resolved,  That  we  do  sincerely  lament  his  decease,  and  tender  our  sym- 
pathies to  his  afiiicted  family. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  the  University  has  sustain- 
ed a  loss  scarcely  to  be  repaired  ;  that  we  the  students  miss  a  true  friend, 
Science  an  active,  able  and  learned  follower  ;  and  Religion  a  sincere  and 
zealous  advocate. 

Resolved  That  his  habits  of  laborious  and  patient  research  rendered  him 
a  model  for  every  aspirant  for  honorable  distinction ;  that  his  great  pro- 
ficiency in  the  departments  of  which  he  had  charge,  admirably  fitted  him 
for  his  office  as  a  teacher  ;  that  his  intellect,  naturally  acute  and  compre- 
hensive, and  by  many  years  of  reading  and  reflection  the  repository  of  al- 


38 

most  every  kind  of  useful  or  recondite  knowledge,  rendered  him  eminently 
an  honor  to  this  Institution  and  to  the  State  ;  that  his  high  toned  princi- 
ples commanded  universal  respect,  and  the  kindness  of  his  heart  made  him 
near  to  all  who  knew  him.  , 

Resolved,  That  in  token  of  our  high  esteem  for  his  memory,  we  will 
wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 


MEETING  OF  THE  DIALECTIC  SOCIETY. 

Dialectic  Hall,  July  24,  1857. 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  by  a  most  sudden  blow  to  re- 
move from  the  midst  of  our  community  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell ;  the 
Dialectic  Society,  acknowledges  that  the  intimacy  of  his  personal  and  offi- 
cial relations  with  all  of  its  sitting  members  demands  that  it  depart  from 
the  custom  which  renders  such  obituary  tributes  as  this  appropriate  only 
to  those  who  have  been  members  of  its  particular  organization  ;  the  more 
especially  as  Dr.  Mitchell  was  eminent  among  the  lovers  of  Virtue  and 
Science ; 

Resolved,  That  this  catastrophe,  which  has  caused  a  shock  through  all 
the  domain  of  letters,  occasioned  a  loss  to  this  University,  so  great  and 
peculiar  as  to  call  for  the  deepest  sorrow  on  the  part  of  all  who  have  any 
connection  therewith. 

Resolved,  That  although  none  of  us  had  been  privileged  to  follow  our 
late  revered  Professor  along  those  paths  of  study  which  were  specially 
his  own,  yet  we  desire  to  say  that  we  make  it  matter  of  honest  pride 
that  we  were  Students  of  the  University  during  his  era  ;  that  we  can  re- 
call in  after  life  many  circumstances  of  profit  and  pleasure  in  our  inter- 
course with  him ;  and  record  here  our  obligations  to  him  for  that  high  ex- 
ample that  the  much  absorbed  and  universal  student  need  not,  amidst 
such  pursuits,  divest  himself  of  those  homely  yet  noble  qualities  which 
make  the  benevolent  and  public  spirited  citizen,  the  courageous  magis- 
trate, and  the  humble  and  sincere  christian — that  the  3'^outh  not  only  of 
the  State,  but  of  the  country,  will  in  years  long  yet  to  come,  remem- 
ber him  as  one  who  guided  the  footsteps  of  their  fathers  amid  many  rug- 
ged paths  in  the  search  of  knowledge  and  truth,  and  even  by  them 
will  his  name  be  recorded  with  those  great  benefactors  of  his  race. 

Resolved,  That  upon  the  loss  of  this  their  distinguished  member,  we 
tender  our  condolence  to  our  brethren  of  the  Philanthropic  Society,  and 
pledge  ourselves  to  co-operate  with  them  in  such  manner  for  erecting  a  per- 
manent memorial  of  our  respect  and  gratitude  as  may  be  deemed  suitable. 


39 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  filed  in  the  Archives  of 
our  Body  and  that  one  be  sent  to  the  bereaved  family  of  the  deceased  as 
the  last  sad  tribute  of  our  respect  to  his  memory. 

Resolved,  That  we  also  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days, 

J.  G.  McNAB, 

J.  G.  MOREIIEAD,  Jr.,        >  Com. 

F.  D.  STOCKTON. 


MEETING  OF  THE  PHILANTHROPIC  SOCIETY. 

Philanthropic  Hall,  July  26,  1857. 
The  members  of  the  Philanthropic  Society  having  learned  the  sudden 
and  melancholy  death  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D,,  the  Senior  Professor 
in  our  University ;  to  express  the  feelings  which  the  sad  event  has  inspired 
us  with,  have 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell  our  University  and  the  cause 
of  learning  in  our  Country  have  suffered  a  great  and  irreparable  loss  ;  that 
we,  his  pupils,  are  bereft  of  a  most  able,  skillful  and  learned  instructor, 
and  have  been  separated  forever  from  a  man  whom  we  admired  and  a 
friend  whom  we  loved,  whose  many  kind  offices  and  wise  counsels  we  shall 
sadly  miss. 

Resolved,  That  we  offer  our  sincere  and  earnest  sympathies  in  this  af- 
fliction to  the  family  of  our  deceased  friend,  and  to  the  Faculty  of  the  Uni- 
versity which  he  served  and  honored  so  long. 

Resolved,  That  our  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  member  and  whose  inte- 
rest he  always  gladly  served,  has  lost  a  warm  and  zealous  patron  and 
friend  ;  and  that  our  members  wear  the  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 
Resolved,  That  the  Committee  present  copies  of  these  resolutions  to  the 
family  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  to  the  Faculty  of  the  University. 

W.  S.  HUMPHRIES, 
ADDISON  HARVEY, 
S.  D.  GOZA, 
E.  S.  J.  BELL. 


Com. 


MEETING  OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  DAVIDSON  COLLEGE. 

Davidson  College,  July  16,  1857. 
On  motion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lacy, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  consisting  of  C.  L.  Hunter,  M.  D.,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Pharr  and  Edwin  R.  Harris,  Esq.,  be  appointed  to  prepare  resolu- 


40 

tions  expressing  the  views  of  the  Board,  in  relation  to  the  sudden  and 
melancholy  end,  of  the  late  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  the 
University  of  North  Carolina. 

The  following  Preamble  and  Resolutions  were  offered  and  unanimously 
adopted : 

Whereas,  The  Board  of  Trustees  of  Davidson  College  has  just  learned 
of  the  death  of  a  venerable  and  learned  Professor  of  the  University  of 
North  Carolina,  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D,,  who  fell  as  a  martyr  to 
Science,  and  whereas  his  name  is  intimately  connected  with  the  building 
up  and  dissemination  of  sound  learning  in  this  State : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  we  deeply  deplore  the  great  loss  sustained  by 
the  State  at  large,  by  the  Church  of  Christ,  of  which  he  was  an  active  and 
a  useful  member,  and  by  the  Institution  of  which  he  was  a  distinguished 
and  prominent  Professor. 

Resolved,  That  it  becomes  us,  as  a  body  of  Christian  men,  to  bow  with 
reverence  and  humility,  to  this  dark,  melancholy  and  inscrutable  dispen- 
sation of  Providence,  thus  impressively  reminding  us  that  "  in  the  midst 
of  life  we  are  in  death." 

Resolved,  That  we  cordially  extend  to  the  family  and  relatives  of  the  de- 
ceased our  sincere,  condolence,  and  heart-felt  sympathy  in  this  their  sudden 
and  afflictive  bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  Preamble  and  Resolutions  be 
forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  to  the  President  and  Faculty  of 
the  University,  and  to  the  Raleigh  papers,  with  the  request  that  the  same 
be  published. 

C.  L.  HUNTER, 

W.  W.  PHARR,  y  Com. 

EDWIN  R.  HARRIS. 


MEETING  OF  THE  FACULTY  OF  DAVIDSON  COLLEGE. 

Davidson  College,  July  18,  1857. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty  of  Davidson  College  held  on  the  18th  day 
of  July  1857,  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted,  viz  : — 

Whereas  the  painful  rumors  which  reached  us  a  few  days  ago  of  the 
sudden  and  melancholy  death  of  a  distinguished  Professor  of  our  State 
University  has  been  surely  confirmed,  we  cannot  refrain  from  some  ex- 
pression of  the  thoughts  and  feelings  so  naturally  prompted  by  the  sad 
news. 


41 

We  regard  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  as  a  puhlic  ca- 
lamity, which  must  fill  all  who  knew  his  eminent  worth  with  the  pro- 
foundest  grief.  Not  only  the  University,  but  the  State,  has  suffered  an 
irreparable  loss  in  being  thus  suddenly  deprived  of  the  invaluable  servi- 
ces of  one  of  her  most  laborious,  ardent  and  successful  instructors  of 
youth.  And  we  have  abundant  reason  to  know  that  there  are  those  among 
the  best  and  ablest  in  nearly  every  State  of  the  Union  who  have  carried 
with  them  from  the  University  the  impression  of  his  high  and  generous 
character  as  a  christian  gentleman  and  scholar,  who  will  mourn  his  death 
as  a  personal  bereavement.  The  church  also,  in  this  general  grief,  sor- 
rows most  of  all,  because  she  has  lost,  in  this  distinguished  philosopher  an 
eminent  christian  minister  and  a  noble  exemplar  of  the  high  and  essential 
harmony  of  Science  and  Religion.  Through  the  whole  of  a  long  life  he 
was  an  assiduous  and  enthusiastic  devotee  of  Science ;  and  to  us  there  is 
something  of  a  melancholy,  poetic  grandeur  and  greatness  in  the  place  and 
manner  of  his  death— whereby  Science  in  burying  one  of  her  worthiest 
eons  has  hallowed  a  new  Pisgah,  which  future  generations  shall  know  and 

mark. 

His  career  on  earth  is  closed ;  and  this  mournful  dispensation  of  Divine 
Providence  brings  forcibly  to  the  mind  of  us  all  the  solemn  admonition  of 
our  Lord,  "  Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son 
of  Man  Cometh." 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathies  with  the  Faculty  of  the  University, 
of  which  he  was  the  oldest  member,  and  has  been  so  long  an  ornament  and 
pillar,  in  the  great  loss  they  have  sustained  in  this  sudden  and  mournful 
visitation. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  paper  be  sent  to  the  family  of  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell, not  only  to  convey  to  them  the  expression  of  our  sincere  sympathy  and 
condolence,  but  to  remind  them  that  though  he,  their  stay  and  guide  and 
light,  is  taken  away  from  them  and  us,  all  is  not  taken ;  that  there  is  still 
left  to  them  an  imperishable  heritage  in  the  good  fame  and  the  wide  and 
distinguished  usefulness  of  this  eminent  servant  of  the  Church  and  of  the 
country. 

By  order  of  the  Faculty.  C.  D.  FISHBURN,  Clerk. 


MEETING  OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS  OF  CHAPEL  HILL. 

Chapel  Hill,  July  L3,  1857. 
Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Our  Heavenly  Father  in  whose  hands  alone 
are  the  issues  of  life  and  death,  to  call  from  "kmong  us  our  venerable  and 


42 

much  beloved  fellow  member,  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell ;  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  have  received  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow,  the 
intelligence  of  his  sad  and  melancholy  fate. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  bow  with  humble  submission  to  the  decree  of 
.  the  Supreme  Governor  of  all  things,  we  shall  ever  cherish  in  our  hearts, 
the  sentiments  of  esteem  and  friendship,  with  which  his  life  and  charac- 
ter have  impressed  us. 

Resolved,  That  in  his  death  the  Commissioners  and  community  of 
Chapel  Hill  have  sustained  an  irreparable  loss. 

Resolved,  That  we  most  sincerely  sympathise  with  his  bereaved  family 
in  their  trouble  and  distress. 

Resolved,  That  these  'resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  journals  of  the 
Village,  that  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  also  to  the 
Chapel  Hill  Gazette  with  request  for  publication. 

E.  MALLETT,  Magistrate  Police. 
'  P.  H.  McDADE, 
H.  B.  GUTHRIE, 
J.  H.  WATSON, 
C.  SCOTT. 


>  Commissioners. 


MINUTE  OF  PRESBYTERY. 

Minute  adopted  by  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  at  its  session  in  Lexing- 
ton, N.  C,  October  20th  1857. 

"  Inasmuch  as  it  has  pleased  God  to  remove  from  us  so  suddenly,  by 
a  mysterious  providence,  our  beloved  brother,  Elisha  Mitchell — for  nearly 
forty  years  a  Professor  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  having  suc- 
cessively filled  the  Chairs  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  and 
of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology — it  becomes  us,  while  we  deplore 
our  weighty  loss,  to  submit  humbly  to  the  stroke  laid  upon  us.  Let  us, 
therefore,  remember  that  we  are  now  taught  in  this  Providence  that  the 
time  is  short,  and  that  no  loveliness,  nor  usefulness,  nor  learning  can  ex- 
empt us  from  the  solemn  call  that  soon  awaits  each  of  us. 

We  recommend  that  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased  brother  with  the  hearty  sympathy  of  this  Presbytery. 

WM.  N.  MEBANE,   Ch'n.  Com. 


43 

MINUTE  OF  SYNOD. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
North  Carolina,  at  its  meeting  in  1857,  reported  the  following  minute  to 
the  meeting  in  1858. 

**  The  Synod  of  North  Carolina  records  with  heart-felt  sorrow  the  loss 
of  one  of  its  oldest  members  by  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  J).  D., 
Professor  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  in  the  University  of 
North  Carolina.  Late  in  1817,  Dr.  Mitchell  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
everlasting  Gospel  by  a  Congregational  Association  of  orthodox  faith  in 
Connecticut.  He  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Orange.  His  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the  Chapel 
of  the  University  not  long  after  his  licensure,  and  his  last  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Salisbury,  a  short  time  before  he  perished.  So  his  ministe- 
rial service  of  nearly  forty  years  was  rendered  altogether  while  in  commu- 
nion with  this  body.  He  was  probably  the  most  learned  man  that  ever 
lived  in  this  State.  He  was  a  skillful  and  conscientious  Professor,  and  as 
such  was  constantly  engaged  in  preparing  for  their  various  walks  in  life  the 
youth  of  the  land.  He  was  a  well-grounded  believer  in  Revelation,  and  no 
common  expounder  of  its  doctrines  in  matters  of  Natural  Science,  as  well  as 
in  those  of  Religion.  The  Synod  gladly  recognizes  the  healthful  influence 
of  his  teachings  upon  the  many  generations  of  his  pupils,  in  that  he  always 
led  them,  by  precept  and  by  example,  to  look  for  the  Lawgiver  of  nature 
as  well  as  for  its  laws.  He  also  preached  regularly  to  them  the  great 
doctrines  of  moral  depravity,  the  necessity  of  an  atonement  by  a  Divine 
Redeemer,  of  regeneration  and  sanctification  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of 
faith  and  repentance  by  each  individual  of  the  one  race  of  Adam.  By  the 
will  of  God,  he  served  his  generation  faithfully  in  his  day,  and  he  was  cut 
off  while  surrounded  with  unfinished  plans  of  usefulness.  This  death 
calls  upon  the  Synod  to  lament  that  Science  has  lost  a  learned,  patient, 
and  devout  investigator — that  Education  must  miss  an  honest  and  accom- 
plished guide,  and  that  Religion  needs  another  faithful  watchman  upon 
the  walls  of  Zion .  The  Synod  also  mourns  for  itself,  the  absence  of  one  who 
was  to  many  of  its  members  a  revered  preceptor,  and  to  all  a  sincere 
friend,  and  a  worthy  co-laborer  in  the  harvest  of  God. 

In  view  of  this  solemn  event  the  Synod  resolves. 

That  while  it  thanks  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for  its  long  and 
fraternal  intercourse  with  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  for  the  example  of  untiring 
industry,  unfailing  liberality,  unceasing  acquisition,  fearless  conscien- 
tiousness, and  consistent  piety  afforded  by  his  life,  its  surviving  members 
will  so  improve  his  sudden  and  unexpected  death  in  the  midst  of  his  un- 


44 

dertakings,  that,  when  their  work  here  is  done,  they  too  may  leave  behind 
the  savor  of  a  life  spent  in  the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  man. 

That  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Synod  send  a  copy  of  this  minute  to  the 
family  of  Dr.  Mitchell  as  a  mark  of  respect  and  sympathy  from  his  breth- 
ren in  Christ  the  Lord." 

DRUEY  LACY,  Ch'n.  Com. 


THE   RE-INTERMEIT 


PEOPOSED  MONUMENT. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

From  the  Asheville  Spectator, 

The  sad  fate  of  the  late  Professor  Mitchell  of  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  is  well  known  to  all.  He  perished  in  one  of  the  wild  gorges  of 
the  Black  Mountain,  during  a  laborious  investigation  which  he  had  under- 
taken relative  to  the  highest  of  the  different  peaks.  Upon  receiving  this 
melancholy  intelligence,  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  Buncombe  and 
adjoining  counties  assembled  in  the  Court  House  at  Asheville  to  give  some 
public  expression  of  their  feelings  in  regard  thereto,  when  among  others 
the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted : — 

Resolved,  That,  in  our  opinion,  no  more  suitable  testimonial  of  respect 
to  the  memory  of  the  deceased  could  be  given,  than  the  erection  of  an  ap- 
propriate Monument  upon  the  mountain,  with  which  his  name  and  sad 
fate  are  so  intimately  associated ;  and  to  carry  out  this  purpose,  w&  ask 
the  assistance  of  all  good  citizens  of  the  State  and  the  friends  of  education 
and  science  generally. 

In  pursuance  of  the  object  herein  expressed  the  undersigned  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  solicit  aid  from  the  citizens  of  North  Carolina,  and 
the  former  pupils  and  friends  of  the  deceased  everywhere.  The  family  of 
Dr.  Mitchell  have  given  their  consent  to  have  his  remains  removed  from 
Asheville  and  deposited  on  the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain,  and 
as  soon  as  the  arrangements  are  all  made  this  will  be  done.  Abundance 
of  granite,  capable  of  being  worked,  is  to  be  found  on  the  very  spot  where 
we  propose  to  erect  this  monument,  and  it  is  thought  that  $5,000  will  be 
amply  sufficient  to  accomplish  what  we  desire. 

In  view  of  the  fact,  that  he  was  the  first  to  visit  these  mountains  and  to 
make  known  their  superior  height  to  any  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  that  he  spent  a  great  portion  of  his  time,  and  finally  lost  his  life  in 
exploring  them,  we  think  it  will  be  admitted  that  no  more  fitting  testi- 
mony of  esteem  could  be  offered  his  memory,  and  no  more  fitting  spot 
found  whereon  to  erect  it.  The  noble  mountains  themselves  will  stand 
his  most  worthy  and  enduring  monument,  but  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
certainly  owes  him  something,  who  has  so  long  devoted  his  best  energies 
to  the  instruction  of  her  youth. 


46 

The  committee  propose  by  this  circular  simply  to  make  known  what  ia 
intended,  feeling  confident,  that  to  the  good  people  of  the  State  and  the 
vast  number  of  old  pupils  and  personal  friends  of  the  deceased,  nothing 
more  need  be  said.  The  plan  of  the  monument  will  be  discussed  when 
sufficient  funds  are' secured  for  its  completion.  They  invite  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  county  committees,  and  of  single  individuals  throughout  the 
State.  Contributions  can  be  transmitted  to  the  committee  or  any  one  of 
them,  by  any  means  most  convenient,  who  will  deposit  all  such  sums  in 
the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear  at  this  place  to  await  the  making  up  of  the  requi- 
site amount.  All  papers  friendly  to  this  project  are  requested  to  copy  this 
circular. 

Z.  B.  VANCE, 
JAS.  A.  PATTON, 
JOHN  A.  DICKSON, 
A.  S.  MERRIMON, 
D.  COLEMAN, 
W.  M.  SHIPP. 


V  Com. 


THE  EE-INTEEMENT  OF  DE.  MITCHELL'S   EEMAINS. 


BY  RICHARD  H.  BATTLE,  ESQ. 


From  the  Raleigh  Register,  July  10, 1858. 

On  the  evening  of  Monday,  the  14th  of  June,  the  body  of  Dr.  Mitchell, 
after  having  rested  for  nearly  a  year  in  the  pretty  little  grave-yard  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Asheville  was  exhumed  for  re-burial  on  the  top  of 
the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain.  Encased  in  coffins  of  wood  and 
metal  it  was  laid  at  the  foot  of  a  large  Oak  tree,  preparatory  to  its  removal 
the  following  morning.  It  was  entrusted  to  the  care  of  several  energetic, 
able-bodied  mountaineers,  whose  zeal  in  performing  the  laborious  task  as- 
signed them  is  worthy  of  high  commendation.  From  the  dawn  of  day  on 
the  15th,  till  a  full  hour  after  darkness  had  settled  down  on  the  sides  of 
the  Black,  and  from  a  very  early  hour  till  near  midday  on  the  16th,  they 
were  at  work  with  scarcely  a  minute  of  rest  or  relaxation. 

From  the  nature  of  the  road,  by  which  the  top  of  Mt.  Mitchell  was  to  be 
reached,  it  was  hardly  practicable  that  a  regular  procession  should  attend 
the  body ;  but  many  citizens  of  the  town  and  visitors  from  a  distance — 
among  the  latter,  the  venerable  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Tennessee,  the  dis- 
tinguished President  of  the.-  University,  and  Messrs.  Ashe  and  Mitchell,  the 


47 

son-in-law  and  son  of  him  we  had  met  to  honor — some  in  vehicles  and 
others  on  hbrseback,  left  Asheville  between  8  and  9  o'clock,  a.  m.,  seve- 
ral hours  after  the  corpse  had  been  taken  from  its  former  resting  place. 
It  being  only  twenty  miles  to  Mr.  Stepp's,  a  place  of  accommodation  at  the 
foot  of  the  Black,  we  easily  reached  it  in  time  to  refresh  ourselves  with  a 
good  dinner,  and  a  rest  to  prepare  us  for  the  more  toilsome  portion  of  our 
journey.  The  vehicles  hitherto  used  being  here  dispensed  with  and  bridles 
and  saddles  substituted  in  their  place  and  animals  being  hired  by  those 
of  us  who  had  not  provided  ourselves  upon  leaving  the  village,  the  upward 
journey  was  begun  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  By  a  few,  of  prefer- 
ence or  necessity,  the  ascent  was  made  on  foot ;  but  much  the  greater  num- 
ber were  mounted  on  surefooted  horses  or  mules. 

The  winding  of  the  road  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  mountain,  to  make 
the  climbing  possible  for  man  and  beast,  gave  to  the  long  line  of  horsemen 
quite  a  striking  appearance.  Those  in  front  seemed  often  to  be  going  in  a 
direction  just  opposite  to  that  of  those  in  their  rear  and  the  line  was  con- 
stantly assuming  the  form  of  the  letter  S.  It  was  to  one  at  alitle  distance 
a  sight  strange  and  picturesque,  viewed  in  connection  with  the  surround- 
ing beauties  of  mountain  scenery — the  majestic  oaks  and  chestnut  trees, 
the  undergrowth  of  mountain  laurel  and  ivy  and  the  large  red  and  yel- 
low honey-suckles,  the  overhanging  rocks  and  the  little  brooks,  fresh  from 
the  springs  a  few  yards  higher  up,  that  met  us  at  every  turn.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  about  the  fourth  hour  from  the  time  of  starting  we  had  made 
but  five  miles,  but  half  the  distance  from  the  base  to  the  summits  and  reach- 
ed the  "Mountain  House"  a  little  before  sunset.  This  is  what  may  be 
called  a  Summer  Hotel  and  is  from  its  situation  a  somewhat  singular  place 
of  entertainment,  standing,  as  it  does,  on  or  rather  against,  the  side  of  the 
mountain  at  a  point  where,  in  some  directions  the  declivity  is  very  preci- 
pitous. It  was,  I  believe,  built  at  the  expense  of  a  wealthy  citizen  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  Mr.  Wm.  Patton,  (lately  deceased),  who  was  himself  in 
former  years  an  occasional  tenant  during  the  heats  of  Summer.  The  furi- 
ous winds  of  Winter  and  the  driving  rain  storms  of  the  Spring  would  de- 
ter the  stoutest  heart  from  making  it  a  permanent  habitation.  It  is  there- 
fore left  to  the  mercy  of  the  elements  for  six  or  eight  months  of  the  year 
and  was  untenanted  at  the  time  of  our  visit. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  remark,  that  near  the  Mountain  House  ie 
first  observed  the  change  in  the  character  of  the  growth  on  the  mountain 
that  constitutes  its  distinguishing  feature.  The  trees  and  shrubs  before 
mentioned  as  overhanging  the  first  half  of  our  winding  road,  at  this  point, 
and  the  corresponding  altitude  on  all  sides  of  the  Black,  give  place  to  the 
Balsam,    which   is   the   exclusive   growth   df  the  mountain  tops.     It  is 


48 

the  dark  green  of  this  tree  as  seen  from  a  distance  that  has  given  the  name 
of  "  the  Black  "  to  this  mountain  or  rather  to  this  long  range  6f  peaks.  It 
would  be  too  much  of  a  digression  to  enumerate  the  many  uses  to  which 
this  tree,  with  the  resin  it  exudes,  is  put  by  the  people  living  about  the 
mountain  for  many  miles  from  its  base. 

The  kind  hospitality  of  some  of  the  relatives  of  Mr.  Patton,  the  proprie- 
tor, had  procured  for  us  the  keys  of  the  hotel,  and  made  all  our  large  com- 
pany  free  to  enter  at  pleasure  every  apartment  from  cellar  to  garret,  and 
select  their  places  for  sleeping.  To  the  same  gentlemen  and  to  Dr.  Boyd 
of  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,"  Asheville,  we  owed  the  means  of  satisfying  a  crav- 
ing appetite,  the  necessary  consequence  of  the  continuous  exercise  we  had 
taken.  Our  numbers  making  sitting  impracticable,  we  ate  standing  a  pri- 
meval meal ;  using  our  hands  and  fingers  as  plates  and  forks,  and  I  might 
add,  spoons.  We  were  glad  to  find  in  hot  coffee,  which  we  swallowed  with 
avidity  without  milk  or  cream,  an  effective  sedative  to  nerves  which  the 
cold  piercing  air  of  our  great  altitude  was  rapidly  unsettling. 

In  the  meanwhile  those  in  charge  of  the  body  were  toiling  slowly  up- 
ward. In  many  places,  the  oxen  drawing  a  sled,  upon  which  it  had  been 
placed,  became  useless  in  consequence  of  the  muddiness  or  steepness  of 
the  way  and  for  short  distances  the  corpse  was  carried  on  the  shoulders  of 
the  mountaineers.  It  was  after  nine  o'clock,  and  many  of  our  company 
had  retired  for  the  night  before  they  arrived.  One  by  one,  tired,  wet, 
muddy  and  chilled,  these  worthy  men  came  in,  seeking  a  share  of  the  sup- 
per of  which  we  had  partaken  and  the  pallets  we  had  spread  upon  the 
floors.  It  was  late  before  the  house  was  quiet  and  even  then,  as  thoughts 
of  the  novelty  of  our  situation  and  of  the  mournful  purpose  for  which  we 
were  there ;  besides  occasional  whispers  from  some  one  more  awake  than  the 
rest ;  and  the  wintry  state  of  the  atmosphere — which  not  the  blazing  fires 
on  our  hearths,  the  thick  blankets  in  which  we  were  wrapped,  nor  the 
animal  heat  diffused  from  the  bodies  of  so  many  room-mates  could  entire- 
ly dispel — all  served  to  prevent  our  falling  asleep  for  some  time. 

An  early  start,  after  a  hasty  breakfast  on  the  remnants  of  the  supper  of 
the  preceding  evening  and  securing  the  animals  turned  loose  to  shift  for 
themselves  during  the  night,  enabled  most  of  us  from  the  Buncombe  side 
to  reach  the  top  of  Mt.  Mitchell  before  9  o'clock.  While  awaiting  the 
commencement  of  the  ceremonies  we  had  several  hours  in  which  to  enjoy 
the  magnificent  prospect  our  lofty  elevation  afforded  us.  The  cold  mists 
that  at  first  enveloped  the  tops  of  the  mountain  were  gradually  dispersed 
by  the  sun  as  he  rose  higher  in  the  heavens,  and  then  was  revealed  to  us 
a  grander  scene  than  it  had  ever  before  been  our  lot  to  behold.  The  ma- 
jestic heights  of  the  peaks  that  with  Mt.   Mitchell  rise  from  a  common 


49 

base ;  the  Blue  Ridge  in  the  distance ;  the  deep  frightful  gorges  on  all 
sides  below  us,  growing  every  moment  more  distinct  as  we  gazed  upon 
them  and  pictured  to  ourselves  the  fall  and  death  of  the  old  friend  we 
were  then  to  bury ;  the  river  winding  with  their  silver  streams  in  every 
direction  from  their  little  sources  in  the  recesses  of  the  mountains  ;  the 
beautiful  farms  with  their  golden  harvests,  cultivated  spots  amid  the 
boundless  wilderness  of  trees  ;  the  light  fleecy  clouds  dotting  the  horrizon  ; 
and  the  blue  sky  above ;  all  formed  a  picture  that  any  one  not  entirely  de- 
void of  a  taste  for  the  beautiful  in  nature  could  not  fail  to  gaze  upon  with 
feelings  of  silent  admiration. 

In  the  meantime  the  sturdy  mountaineers  of  Yancey  were  assembling  in 
great  numbers.  They,  many  with  their  wives  and  daughters,  had  toiled 
up  the  long  and  steep  ascent  to  witness  the  burial  of  the  friend,  who  near- 
ly a  quarter  of  a  century  before,  endeared  himself  to  them  while  laboring 
to  ascertain  the  height  of  their  famous  mountain  and  explore  its  hidden 
recesses,  who  had  died  amongst  them  while  verifying  the  results  of  those 
former  labors  and  who  was  found  by  tJiem  at  the  bottom  of  his  watery 
grave.  A  stranger  did  not  require  words  from  them  to  know  how  they 
loved  him  while  living  and  cherished  his  memory  after  death.  They  had 
not  long  to  wait ;  for  the  body,  kept  with  much  difficulty  in  its  place  on  the 
sled,  as  the  oxen  made  their  way  over  the  miry  road  and  slippery  roots 
was  drawing  near  its  final  resting-place.  At  the  foot  of  the  steep  knoll 
that  forms  the  summit,  the  oxen  and  sled  were  finally  dispensed  with,  and 
a  friendly  emulation  was  displayed  by  the  Yancey  Mountaineers  in  offering 
their  broad  shoulders  to  support  the  corpse. 

R.  D.  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Yancey,  being  requested  to  act  as  Marshall,  here 
formed  a  procession  in  the  following  order : 

Citizens  of  Buncombe. 

Citizens  of  Yancey. 

Students  of  the  University. 

*■  THE  CORPSE. 

Family  of  the  Deceased. 
Trustees  and  Faculty  of  the  University. 
The  President  and  Rt.  Rev.  Orator. 
Upon  reaching  the  summit  of  the  Mountain,  the  lines  in  front  of  the^ 
the  Corpse  were  opened  and  the  procesion  in  reversed  order  advanced  to 
the  grave,  Bishop  Otey  reading  the  impressive  service  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  for  the  Burial  of  the  Dead.     Arrived  at  the  brink  of  the  grave,  a 
necessarily  shallow  one  dug  mostly  through  rock,  the  body  was  lowered  ; 
and  the  Bishop,  from  a  desk  formed  of  a  stone  taken  from  the  grave,  deli- 
vered a  funeral  address  to  an  audience  that  stood  or  sat  with  heads. reve- 


50 

rently  uncovered.  When  it  is  remembered  that  with  great  inconvenience 
and  trouble  and  upon  very  short  notice  the  Bishop  had  come  from  his  dis- 
tant home  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  every  one  is  assured  that  he 
spoke  the  truth  when  he  said,  that  gratitude  and  love  caused  him  to  be 
there  to  pay  the  last  honors  to  the  instructor  and  friend  of  his  youth — 
surely  such  a  tribute  to  friendship  has  been  seldom  offered  in  this  selfish 
world.  "We  scarcely  knew  whom  more  to  admii-e — him  who  inspired,  or 
him  who  felt  such  undying  friendship — him  who  was  eidogized  or  him 
who  spoke  the  eulogy. 

Upon  motion  of  Gov.  Swain  a  vote  of  thanks,  that  seemed  to  come  from 
the  inmost  heart  of  the  audience,  and  a  request  for  a  copy  of  the  address 
for  publication  were  unanimously  adopted  and  were  but  a  feeble  testimony 
to  the  general  appreciation  of  it.  Though  composed  chiefly  of  people  of 
the  surrounding  counties,  Mountaineers,  whose  lives  had  been  spent  far 
from  schools  and  academies  of  learning,  the  whole  assembly  seemed  most 
deeply  interested  and  impressed.  And  when  the  Rt.  Rev.  Orator  spoke  of 
the  zealous  and  untiring  labors  of  his  departed  friend,  for  forty  years,  in  '~ 
the  cause  of  religion  and  science  and  in  the  instruction  of  hundreds  of 
the  youth  of  this  State — of  all  the  Southern  States,  and  of  his  tragic  death 
in  verifying  in  his  old  age  measurements  and  observations  made  by  him 
on  that  mountain  long  years  before.  I  am  sure  there  was  not  one  of  his 
hearers  too  young  or  too  ignorant  to  feel  that  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Mitchell, 
North  Carolina  lost  one  of  her  noblest  sons,  one  of  her  brightest  ornaments. 

f  The  able  President  of  our  University  then,  after  paying  a  graceful  com- 
pliment to  the  address  we  had  so  much  admired,  in  words  eloquent  though 
unstudied,  added  his  testimony  to  the  truth  and  justice  of  its  eulogy  ;  and 
alluding  to  the  eminent  appropriateness  of  the  place  of  burial  he  expressed 
an  intention  on  the  part  of  himself  and  his  friend  N.  W.  "Woodfin,  Esq.,  of 
Asheville,  as  owners,  to  present  the  ground  on  which  they  stood,  the  top 
of  the  high  peak,  to  the  Trustees  of  the  University  on  condition  that  it 
shall  be  called  Mt.  Mitchell — alleging  very  truly,  that  the  right  of  proper- 
ty is  not  more  theirs  than  the  right  to  give  it  a  name.  Of  the  propriety 
of  this  name,  it  seems  to  me,  no  one  who  has  had  the  opportunity  as  we 
had  on  that  accasion  of  interrogating  Dr.  Mitchell's  guides  to  the  different 

^  peaks  in  1835,  can  entertain  the  slightest  doubt.     If  the  word  of  man,  cor- 
roborated by  independent  circumstances,  is  to  be  believed,  Dr.  Mitchell      > 
was  on  the  summit  on  which  his  remains  noiv  rest,  with  William  Wilson  and 
Adoniran  Allen  in  1835. 

At  the  conclusion  of  ex-Governor  Swain's  address,  which  was  extempo- 
raneous, James  W.  Patton,  Esq.,  moved  that  he  be  requested  to  write  it 
out  for  publication  ;  and  R.  Don  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Yancey,  Col.  Washington 


51 

Hardy,  of  Buncombe,  and  J.  W.  Graham  of  the  University  were  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  confer  witii  him  and  with  Bishop  Otey,  and  to  urge 
most  earnestly  the  permission  to  publish  their  several  addresses. 

To  these  solicitations  I  was  happy  to  learn  neither  of  the  distinguished 
speakers  considered  himself  at  liberty  to  turn  a  deaf  ear,  and  consent  was 
given  that  the  public  should  have  in  print,  what  was  so  edifying  to  us  who 
were  present  at  the  delivery.  Though  they  have  not  the  propitious  acces- 
sories of  the  occasion — the  top  of  the  lofty  mountain,  the  open  grave,  the 
body  of  the  departed,  the  tone  of  the  speakers  and  the  mournful  faces  of 
the  listening  hearers,  to  heighten  the  effect  of  what  was  said,  I  feel  confi- 
dent that  the  general  appreciation  of  it  will  be  akin,  if  not  equal  to  ours. 

It  is  a  coincidence  not  unworthy  of  remark,  that  on  Mt.  Mitchell,  in  the 
persons  of  Bishop  Otey  and  his  respected  friend  and  class-mate  Dr.  Tho- 
mas II.  Wright  of  Wilmington,  and  of  Mr.  Graham  and  Mr.  Mitchell  the  be- 
loved sou  of  the  departed,  were  here  to  mourn  at  his  funeral,  members  of 
the  first  and  of  the  last  class  that  Dr.  Mitchell  instructed  at  the  University. 


MOUJ^T  MITCHELL— JUNE  16,  1858. 


From  the  University  Magazine. 

Proud  Peak  !  so  sternly  rising  'mid  the  smiling  heaven — 
Thy  haughty  brow  by  thunderbolts  and  tempests  riven. 
Dark  bristling  with  thy  jagged  pines,  like  warriors  mailed, 
And  beetling  crags  where  erst  unharmed  have  eagles  sailed. 
Among  thy  giant  brothers  grim,  without  a  peer ; 
Thy  solitudes  unwaked  from  rolling  year  to  year, 
By  man,  or  aught,  save  howling  storms  or  brutes  of  dread ; 
To-day,  how  thou  must  marvel  at  th'  unwonted  tread 
Of  those  who  climb  thy  heights,  and  cloud-throned  summit  scale, 
To  chant  o'er  Science'  martyred  son  the  funeral  wail. 

Oh,  haughtiest  ingrate ! — to  prove  thy  pride  and  place. 
E'en  o'er  proud  Washington,  king  of  the  mountain  race  ; 
This  was  his  eager  wish  from  year  to  year  pursued — 
And  with  his  blood  thy  cruel  clutches  thou'st  imbued  ! 
Rock-hearted  type  of  Pride,  thou  would'st  undoubted  claim, 
By  search  or  measure  true,  of  king  the  rank  and  name  ! 
Oh  hateful  cliff,  from  whose  rough,  treacherous,  wildering  height, 


52 

The  kind  and  wise  old  man  fell  on  that  saddest  night, 

Sweet  stream  beneath  !  whose  pitying  bosom  took  him  in, 

As  down,  down,  down,  with  headlong  crash  and  horrid  din 

Of  hurtling  stones  around  he  fell,  and  none  was  nigh 

To  hear,  for  help  his  last,  heart-thrilling,  gasping  cry. 

Uproot  the  frail,  weak.  Laurel  tree  to  which  he  clung  ; 

False  herb  !  a  precious  life  in  truth  upon  thee  hung 

That  night,  as  oft  it  has  on  thy  poetic  meed — 

Alas  !  thou^rt  ever  but  the  broken,  piercing  reed  ! 

What,  though  it  mocked  his  dying  grasp,  the  treacherous  laurel  bough, 

Fame's  self  he'd  won,  and  needed  not  the  emblem  now. 

A  crown  of  glory  shall  be  his  beyond  the  grave 

O'er  which  his  well-earned  earthly  laurels  fadeless  wave. 

Sleep,  good  and  kindly  man,  in  this  thy  tomb  sublime : 

Such  was  thy  wish,  here  to  await  the  end  of  time. 

Honored  wherever  Science  lifts  her  searching  eye, 

Loved  in  thy  classic  home  thy  memory  cannot  die  ! 

And  Otey,  who  o'er  thy  pale,  cherished  form,  doth  say 
The  last  fond  words  that  loving,  honoring  lips  e'er  may  ; 
Weil  may  he  feel  the  spell  of  place  upon  him  now ; 
For  he  is  mountain-born.     Lo  !  on  his  glorious  brow 
High  thoughts  inspired  fleet  on,  as  storm  and  sunshine  chase 
Each  other  o'er  the  calm,  uplifted,  mountain's  face. 
Thou'rt  like  to  Saul  amidst  his  brothers ;  he  like  each, 
And  like  thy  far-off  heights,  his  lofty  soarings  reach,' 
Far,  far  beyond  the  aching  sight  and  easy  ken, 
Of  most  who  walk  this  earth  and  bear  the  names  of  men. 

On  dark,  blue,  Otter's  rounded  peak,  oft  hath  he  said, 
"  Make  thou,  my  well  beloved,  my  last  and  lonely  bed :" 
But  oh  !  may  God,  the  Merciful,  forbid  that  thou 
Shouldst  find  a  martyr's  grave,  as  he  we  mourn  o'er  now. 
Yet  what  more  noble,  worthy,  death  may  be  desired  ? 
The  great,  the  good,  he  long  pursued — achieved — expired. 

True  nobleman  of  nature  thou — gentle,  yet  firm, 
Honored  to  terror's  verge  by  scholars  through  the  term ; 
But  like  a  brother  loved,  when  college  rule  was  done ; 
The  master  so  august,  and  genial  friend  in  one. 
Oh,  noble  Mitchell  !  thy  revered  and  cherished  name 
Old  Chapel  Hill  deems  sweetest  heritage  of  fame. 


53 

Oh !  tender,  loving  ones  of  his  dear  home  embalm 
His  memory  with  sighs  ye  must ;  but  seek  for  calm 
In  all  the  good  he  living,  did ;  and  dying,  paid 
His  life — upon  the  shrine  of  zeal  in  duty  laid. 

Dark  mountain  king !  baptized  with  sacrificial  blood, 
Mt.  Mitchell  now.     Gained  by  this  broad  and  easy  road, 
Black  Peak,  no  longer  frowning  unattained  and  wild, 
Love  hath  subdued  thee  to  the  footsteps  of  a  child : 
A  monument  to  that  immortal  power,  thou'rt  given 
To  man,  by  Him  who  made  and  ruleth  Earth  and  Heaven. 

Y.  0.  M. 

Richmond,  Va.,  June  16,  1858. 


^'That  His  Man's  highest  glory  TO  BE  GOOD.'" 


A  FUKERAL  ORATIOI 

AT  THE 

RE-INTERMENT  OF  THE  REMAINS 

OF  THE 

REV.  ELISHA  MITCHELL,  D.  D. 

LATE    PROFESSOR   OF 
CHEMISTRY,  MINERAIiOGY  AWD  GEOIiOGT  IN  THB 

UNIVEESITY  OF  NORTH  CAKOLINA. 

O^  MOILN^T   MITCHELL, 
JUNE  15,  1858. 

BY   THE 

RT.  REV.  JAMES  H.  OTEY,  D,  D., 

BISHOP  OF  TENNESSEE. 


CHAPEL  HELL : 
I*IIBLISHED  BY  J.  M.  HENDERSON. 

PEINTEK   TO  THE  UIOVEESITT. 

1858. 


A  FUNERAL  ORATION. 


Who  needs  to  be  told,  in  the  midst  of  the  awe-inspiring 
scenes  of  grandeur  which  here  surround  us,  that  '^  God  on- 
ly is  great  ?"  "  There  is  neither  speech  nor  language,"  but 
a  voice  conies  from  all  these  lofty  heights,  these  profound 
and  awful  gulfs,  comes  to  the  soul  of  man— of  every  re- 
flecting man  here,  and  re-echoes  the  sentiment  of  reve- 
rence to  which  Moses  gave  utterance  in  the  sublime  lan- 
guage, ''Before  the  Mountains  were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
the  earth  and  the  world  were  made.  Thou  art  God  from 
everlasting,  and  world  without  end  !" 

Man  and  his  works  are  perishable  and  ever  perishing. 
:N"ature  is  more  stable  and  enduring.  The  scenes  of  great 
events  serve  as  striking  memorials  to  future  ages ;  while 
the  changeless  features  impressed  upon  them,  convey  by 
contrast,  an  awakening  lesson  of  the  mutability  of  human 
things. 

In  the  art  in  which  genius  sometimes  displays  its  most 
brilliant  powers,  and  fancy  amuses  itself  with  mimic  repre- 
sentations of  passions  and  wants  on  the  great  stage  of  life ; 
the  curtain  falls  upon  the  scenery  and  action  together :  and 
when  the  walking  shadows  of  being  disappear,  the  ''  coun- 
terfeit presentment"  of  objects,  introduced  to  strengthen 
the  illusion,  is  removed  from  view,  as  unmeaning  lumber. 

Not  so  with  the  reality  enacting  on  the  wide  and  varied 
field  of  human  existence  and  enterprise.  The  action,  it 
is  true,  is  fleeting  and  inconstant.  Generations  succeed 
each  other  in  mournful  and  rapid  succession;   and  their 


58 

works  are  swept  away,  as  the  leaves  of  the  forest  are  dri- 
ven before  the  chilling  blasts  of  autumn.  But  the  scenes 
among  which  men  labour  and  toil  and  struggle  remain 
with  the  same  characters  unchanged,  which  God  impressed 
upon  them ;  having  all  of  perpetuity  that  earth  can  give ; 
destined  to  witness  other  crises  and  other  catastrophes  in 
the  ever-passing  drama  of  mortality ;  and  to  furnish  to 
the  end  of  time,  silent  but  truthful  monuments  to  the 
facts  of  history.  Races,  institutions,  religions  and  go- 
vernments; arts,  trades,  associations,  and  dynasties  fol- 
low each  other  in  mighty  and  varied  series,  sheltered  be- 
neath the  shadows  flung  from  the  same  mountain  heights, 
and  mirrored  in  the  same  placid  waters.  The  storied  plain 
of  Marathon  with  its  encircling  hills,  its  meandering  rivu- 
let, its  marsh — the  grave  of  many  a  Persian  horseman — its 
beach,  battered  by  the  surges  of  the  ^gean  sea,  continues 
now,  as  on  that  memorable  day, .  when  it  was  pressed  by 
the  feet  of  the  flying  Mede,  with  skaftless  quiver  and  bro- 
ken bow,  or  trampled  in  hot  haste  by  the  furious  and  con- 
quering Greek,  with  red,  pursuing  speer !  But  the  na- 
tions, the  ideas,  the  altars  and  the  institutions  of  those  who 
contended  there  for  victory,  are  dissolved  as  utterly,  and 
almost  as  long  ago,  as  the  bodies  of  the  slain  in  the  lonely 
mound  which  yet  marks  the  spot  of  their  inhumation. — 
The  majestic  summit  of  "high  Olympus"  still  overlooks 
the  peaceful  vale  of  Thessaly,  with  the  same  lofty  and  pure 
eminence  which  commended  it  to  heathen  fancy  as  the 
throne  of  the  Gods ;  as  the  council  chamber  where  "  Jove 
convened  the  Senate  of  the  skies,"  to  decide  the  fate  of  na- 
tions. But  the  divinities  themselves,  the  intellectual  crea- 
tions of  ancient  poets ;  the  fair  humanities  of  those  old  re- 
ligions which  the  ingenuity  of  Statesmen  invented,  or  em- 
ployed, to  effect  political  objects;  the  power,  the  beauty 
and  the  majesty  that  had  there  their  imagined  haunt,  on 
its  consecrated  heights,  have  all  vanished  and  live  no  Ion- 


69 

ger  in  the  faitli  or  fancy  of  mortals.  The  truth  of  which  I 
am  speaking  is  most  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  associations 
which  henceforward  will  cling  to  this  Father  of  American 
Mountains;  rising  here  in  majestic  grandeur;  with  its 
rocky  battlements  scathed  by  the  red  lightnings,  but  yet 
unharmed;  and  throwing  back  the  voice  of  the  loudest 
thunders,  from  its  deep-muttered  and  reverberating  caverns, 
and  transmitting  the  awful  roar  from  crag  to  crag,  until 
earth  herself  appears  to  shudder  with  fear  and  trembling. 
A  few  years  only  have  elapsed  since  it  stood  here  in  solitary 
loneliness,  unchronicled  amidst  changes  which  have  mark- 
ed the  passing  away  of  nations  of  men  that  roamed  under 
its  woody  sides  or  climbed  its  dizzy  heights ! 

"We  tread  the  scenes  over  which  buried  tribes  and  gene- 
rations of  men  once  wandered ;  we  gaze  upon  the  cloud-cap- 
ped summits  which  once  filled  their  vision ;  we  strain  the 
eye  to  trace  the  dim  and  distant  outline  that  bounded  their 
horizon  ;  the  places  which  know  us,  knew  them ;  saw  all 
that  we  would  vainly  explore ;  and  heard  those  shrouded 
secrets  of  the  shadowy  past  which  are  never  to  be  recover- 
ed from  oblivion  till  the  coming  of  that  hour  when  "  the 
earth  shall  give  up  her  dead  I" 

The  eye  of  one  who  first  drew  breath  in  a  northern  clime, 
and  moved  by  the  most  honorable  motives  which  can  go- 
vern human  conduct,  to  seek  useful  employment  in  this, 
his  adopted  State,  and  led  by  the  desire  to  add  to  the  stock 
of  human  knowledge,  or  by  the  natural  love  of  the  sublime 
and  beautiful,  rested  some  twenty  three  years  ago  upon 
this  glorious  monument  of  the  Creator's  handy-work.  He 
traversed  its  most  deeply  wooded  dells ;  he  stood  upon  its 
loftiest  peaks  ;  he  gazed  in  rapture  upon  its  bold  and  mag- 
nificent outlines  of  grandeur ;  his  spirit  here  drank  in  the 
sweet  and  elevating  influences  of  the  Heavenly  world,  and 
though  no  angels,  messengers  from  the  spirit -land,  met  him 
here  to  lift  the  veil  that  covers  eternal  things,  yet  here  he 


60 

doubtless  held  communion  with,  his  God,  and  in  that  soli- 
tude and  silence  which  are  most  propitious  to  devotion,  he 
felt  in  the  mingled  affections  of  love,  reverence  and  fear  that 
filled  the  soul  of  the  disciple  upon  the  mount  of  transfigu- 
ration and  which  inspired  his  breast,  that  it  was  indeed 
good  for  him  to  be  here. 


*'  Early  had  he  learned 
To  reverence  the  volume  that  displays 
The  mystery,  the  life,  that  cannot  die  ; 
But  in  the  mountains  he  did  feel  his  faith  !" 

"  The  whispering  air 

Sends  inspiration  from  the  mountain  heights/' 

Wordsworth. 


We  know  not  what  were  the  varied  emotions  and  exer- 
cises of  mind  which  the  contemplation  of  these  scenes  of 
sublimity  and  beauty  excited  in  him.  "We  know  that  he 
possessed  a  soul  thoroughly  attuned  to  the  full  appreciation 
of  all  these  things ;  and  tastes  formed  and  educated  by 
study  and  observation  to  derive  the  most  exquisite  pleasure 
as  well  as  profit  from  their  contemplation.  He  has  not,  so 
far  as  I  know,  left  on  record  any  account  of  the  reflections 
to  which  acquaintance  with  the  view  of  these  things  gave 
rise.  Whatever  shape  they  took,  sure  I  am,  they  were  in 
spirit  holy  and  elevating  and  if  now  they  exist  in  words  of 
human  language,  they  remain  as  precious  mementoes  of 
love  and  affection  to  those  who  were  enshrined  in  his  heart. 
But  mere  selfish  gratification  formed  no  part  of  his  charac- 
ter and  its  elements,  if  they  mingled  at  all  in  the  motives 
which  actuated  his  pursuits,  did  so  incidentally.  If  this 
constitution  of  his  mind  led  him  to  investigate  the  laws  and 
operations  of  nature  and  derive  pleasure  from  such  occupa- 
tions, the  affections  of  his  heart  influenced  him  not  less  to 
turn  all  his  discoveries  and  convert  all  his  acquisitions  to 
the  good  of  mankind.  Perhaps  not  a  flower  blooms  on 
this  mountain  and  sheds  its  fragrance  to  perfume  the  bree- 


61 

zes  that  fan  its  brows,  but  a  specimen  of  it  adorns  his  her- 
barium. Perhaps  not  a  root  draws  nourishment  and  heal- 
ing virtue  from  its  soil,  but  its  like  or  a  description  of  it 
enriches  the  collection  of  his  Cabinet.  Perhaps  not  an  ani- 
mal roams  through  these  wilds  ;  not  a  bird  warbles  its  ma- 
tin notes  of  joy,  or  sings  its  vesper-hymn  of  praise,  amidst 
these  umbrageous  groves  ;  not  a  reptile  crawls  around  these 
rock-serrated  ridges ;  nor  insect  floats  in  the  morning 
beams  that  herald  the  approach  of  the  "powerful  king  ot 
day,"  or  sports  in  the  rays  that  leave  their  dewy  kiss  upon 
the  brow  of  this  giant  son  of  the  everlasting  hills  (as  Mght 
throws  around  him  her  sable  folds,  inviting  to  repose,)  that 
he  has  not  observed  its  habits,  tracked  its  ways,  learned  its 
instincts,  and  chronicled  its  history.  Is  there  a  rock  up- 
heaved from  yonder  summit  that  throws  exultingly  its 
thunder-rifted  crags  to  the  sky,  or  that  protrudes  in  stately 
and  proud  disdain,  from  yonder  iron-bound  and  beetling 
cliffs,  as  though  it  held  in  contempt  all  smaller  things  ? — 
He  knew  its  class,  its  composition,  its  age.  Is  there  -a 
mineral  that  has  been  dug  from  these  hills ;  that  has  rolled 
down  from  these  ridgy  steeps ;  or  been  uncovered  by  the 
torrents  that  rave  and  roar  down  these  mountain  sides  ? — 
He  knew  its  form  and  family,  its  value  and  its  uses.  Hither 
he  brought  the  theodolite  with  its  unerring  precision  to 
compute  angles  ;  the  surveyors  chain  to  measure  distances  ; 
the  compass  to  determine  bearings ;  the  barometer  to  weigh 
the  atmosphere  and  the  hygrometer  to  ascertain  its  humi- 
dity. From  all  these  elements  of  Scientific  calculation  as 
developed  by  means  and  instruments  that  speak  no  lan- 
guage but  that  of  truth,  simple,  and  naked  truth — unmov- 
ed from  propriety  by  envy,  unswayed  by  the  whisperings 
of  ambition — he  ascertained  and  proclaimed  that  this  spot 
on  which  we  here  stand — this  glorious  summit,  raised  above 
the  scenes  of  a  toiling  and  weary  world,  was  the  highest 
land  in  the  United  States,  East  of  the  Mississippi  River! 


62 

"Who  then  has  a  better  right  than  he,  to  give  it  a  name  ? — 
I^one ;  hj  all  that  is  praiseworthy  in  honest  labor,  sacred  in 
truth  and  just  in  reward  ! 

But  what  has  convened  this  vast  assembly  ?  What  has 
brought  the  people  from  their  homes  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach  from  this  proud  eminence  over  all  the  land  below,  to 
gather  here  in  solemn  silence — seriousness  impressed  on 
every  countenance  and  reverence  enthroned  on  every  brow  ? 
The  dwellers  in  vales  and  on  the  mountain  tops  are  here. 
The  husbandman  has  left  his  plough  ;  the  artisan  his  tools ; 
the  professional  man  his  office  ;  the  merchant  has  quit  the 
busy  mart  of  trade  ;  the  man  of  Science  has  closed  the  doors 
of  his  study ;  the  student  has  laid  aside  his  books  to  come 
hither !  "  The  bridegroom  has  come  forth  from  his  cham- 
ber and  the  bride  from  her  closet,"  the  Fathers  and  Moth- 
ers of  the  land  are  here  !  "  Young  men  and  maidens,  old 
men  and  children  ;"  and  the  ministers  of  the  Sanctuary  are 
here  to  do  honor  to  this  occasion,  and  in  this  place  no  "  un- 
fit audience  chamber  of  Heaven's  King,"  to  consecrate  the 
spot,  as  far  as  the  act  of  man  may,  ''to  deathless  fame  !" — 
No  martial  music  breaks  upon  the  hearing,  stirring  the 
hearts  of  men  and  gathering  armed  hosts  in  the  serri- 
ed ranks  of  battle ;  no  sound  of  the  trumpet,  nor  voice 
of  prophet  has  collected  this  mighty  concourse  of  living 
men  !  I  never  saw  such  an  assembly :  I  never  expect  to 
see  the  like  again  !  I  never  read  of  any  thing  in  history 
approaching  its  equal  or  its  parallel,  except  the  gathering 
of  the  hosts  of  Israel  on  Mount  Carmel  at  the  call  of  Eli- 
jah !  In  the  physical  features  of  the  scene  here  presented 
to  the  eye,  the  proportions  of  grandeur  and  beauty  more 
than  equal  those  of  Carmel.  The  moral  grandeur  of  the 
object  and  of  the  assembly  gathered  by  Elijah  far  surpass 
ours.  Indeed  they  were  never  equalled  in  our  world  ex- 
cept when  God  descended  upon  Sinai  and  surrounded  by 


63 

terrible  emblems  of  power  and  glory  proclaimed  bis  law 
to  liis  people. 

But  wliat  bas  moved  us,  as  by  tlie  spirit  of  one  man  to 
be  bere  to-day  ?  From  tbe  banks  of  tbe  majestic  Mississip- 
pi in  tbe  West,  and  from  tbe  sbores  wbere  tbunders  tbe 
Atlantic  wave  in  tbe  East,  we  bave  met  on  tbis  midway 
ground.  For  wbat  ?  To  do  bomage  to  goodness,  my 
countrymen  !  Some  of  us  to  pay  tbe  tribute  of  our  love  in 
tears  to  tbe  memory  of  one  wbo  was  dear  to  us  as  a  Fatber  1 
Many  of  us  wbo  in  years  long  past  could  appropriate  tbe 
language  of  tbe  propbet  in  bebalf  of  Israel  and  say,  "My 
Fatber  !  tbou  art  tbe  guide  of  my  youtb. ' '  All  of  us  to  testi- 
tify  our  appreciation  of  merit  and  by  one  act  to  link  for 
ever  tbe  bonored  name  of  Elisha  Mitchell,  witb  tbis  Mo- 
narcb  of  Mountains.  Here  tben,  and  to-day,  we  commit  to 
tbe  ground  all  tbat  remains  of  bis  perisbable  body.  Here, 
in  tbe  face  of  Heaven,  in  tbe  ligbt  of  yonder  Sun,  wbose 
radiance  beams  brigbtly  on  tbis  spot  wben  darkness  veils 
tbe  world  below,  and  tbe  storm-cloud  witb  its  fringes  of 
^e  girdles  tbe  mountain  waist, — in  tbe  name  of  trutb, 
bonor,  and  justice;  by  rigbt  of  prior  discovery;  by  merit 
of  being  tbe  first  to  claim  tbe  bonor  of  actual  measurement 
and  matbematical  determination ;  by  virtue  of  labors  en- 
dured witb  unremitting  patience,  and  terminated  only  by 
deatb ;  we  consecrate  tbis  mountain  by  tbe  name  of  Mt. 
Mitchell  and  we  call  upon  you  to  speak  your  approval  and 
say  Amen  !  Yes,  we  consecrate  it — a  monument  raised 
to  tbe  memory  of  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell,  to  a  fame, 

"  Unwasting,  deathless  and  sublime, 

That  will  remain  while  lightnings  quiver, 

Or  stars  the  hoary  summits  climb, 

Or  rolls  the  thunder  chariot  of  Eternal  Time." 

A.  Pike. 

Here  I  migbt  consider  my  undertaken  task  as  finisbed — 
tbe  object  of  my  long  and  wearisome  pilgrimage  as  consum- 
mated ;  but  I  must  crave  your  indulgence,  wbile  I  endea- 


64 

vor  in  liuinble  imitation  of  him  whose  deatli  we  deplore, 
and  whose  virtues  we  honor,  to  improve  even  this  occasion 
to  the  practical  benefit  of  my  fellow  men.  Such,  methinks, 
would  be  his  course,  if  he  were  living  and  called  to  act  in 
the  circumstances  under  which  I  find  myself  placed.  He 
allowed  no  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved,  if  by  any 
means  he  could  employ  it  to  the  good  of  mankind.  Little 
did  I  think,  this  tkne  last  year,  that  I  should  be  soon  called 
to  ofiiciate  at  his  burial — to  see  the  doors  of  death  opened 
and  then  closed  upon  him,  till  the  clangor  of  the  Archan- 
gel's trumpet  shall  break  the  silence  of  the  grave,  and  the 
dawn  of  the  resurrection  morn  shall  shed  its  light  over  all 
the  places  of  the  scattered  and  slumbering  dead  !  But 
God's  ways  are  inscrutable — his  wisdom  unsearchable  and 
his  judgments  a  great  deep.  Submission,  trust  and  hope 
are  the  virtues  which  his  dealings  with  us  evermore  and 
emphatically  inculcate. 

About  seven  years  ago  I  stood  by  the  tomb  of  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott,  the  great  Weird  of  the  E'orth — the  man  whose 
genius  by  a  kind  of  magic  influence  held  the  world  spell- 
bound. His  grave  was  made  under  an  arch  in  the  ruins  of 
Dryburg  Abbey  and  covered  with  a  plain  slab  of  Sand-stone, 
his  name  with  the  date  of  his  birth  and  death  inscribed  up- 
on it.  His  wife  and  eldest  son  reposed  in  death  by  his  side, 
one  on  the  right,  the  other  on  his  left.  It  was  the  most 
melancholy-looking  place  I  ever  saw.  The  spirit  of  sad- 
ness seemed  to  preside  over  the  spot ;  to  utter  its  low  voice 
in  the  gentle  and  just  audible  murmurs  of  the  Tweed ;  to 
breathe  sighs  in  the  light  winds  that  whispered  through  the 
trees  and  to  brood  over  all  the  scene  like  a  dull  haze  ob- 
scuring the  brightness  of  the  sky.  It  seemed  to  me,  as  if  this 
great  man  had  come  to  this  secluded  spot  to  lay  down  the 
burden  of  mortality  in  mockery  of  the  pride  and  vanity  of 
human  expectations.  It  is  well  known,  that  his  fondest 
and  most  earnest  desires  were  to  attain  the  honors  and  ti- 


65 

ties  of  a  baronetcy  and  to  become  tbe  founder  of  an  enno- 
bled family.     For  tliis,  liis  vast  and  versatile  powers  were 
taxed   to   tlie   utmost   strength,    and  even   beyond  endu- 
rance.    He  seemed  just  on  the  eve  of  realizing  his  ardent- 
ly cherished  hopes.     His  literary  fame  was  redolent  with 
the  praises  of  a  world  of  admirers.     He  attracted  the  favor- 
able notice  of  his  sovereign,  and  through  the  interest  of  one 
and  another,  powerful  in  Court  influence,  he  gained  the 
name  of  Baron.     And  very  soon  the  vicissitudes  of  trade, 
through  which  he  hoped  to  acquire  the  means  of  maintain- 
ing his  newly  conferred  dignity,  imposed  on  him  the  stern 
obligation  of  laboring  for  his  bread,  and  the  liquidation  of 
the  j  ust  claims  of  his  creditors.     Bravely  he  waged  the  battle 
of  life  :  But  ''  time  and  change  happen  to  all ' '  and  at  last  the 
mightiest  of  all  conquerers  met  him  :  and  in  his  grasp  he 
yielded  up  life  and  all  its  promises  of  distinction,  with  as 
little  resistance  as  an  infant  oflers  to  the  over-mastering 
and  crushing  strength  of  a  giant.     For  what  purpose  had 
he  lived  and  to  what  end  had  he  employed  the  command- 
in  o-  talents  with  which   God  had   endowed   him?     It   is 
an  accredited  ma^sim,  ^' de  mortuis  nil  nisi  bonum'' — that  is 
speak  nothing  derogatory  of  the   dead.     We  accept  the 
aphorism,  and  mean  not  to  deny  its  obligation  in  practice. 
We  would  not  take  one  leaf  of  pine  or  laurel  from  that 
crown  with  which  the  suflTrage  of  a  world  has  graced  the 
brow  of  Scotland's  favorite  son.     But  by  suggesting  a  com- 
parison between  the  works  of  the  great  Magician  of  the 
Korth  and  the  unobtrusive  and  patient  labors  of  the  Profes- 
sor toiling  for  forty  years  in  the  Academic  shades  of  Caro- 
Una,  in  their  acknowledged  results  upon  human  society,  I 
would  add  a  modest  and  unpretending  Forget-me-not  to  the 
wreath  which   adorns  the  honored  head  of  our  beloved 

friend. 

We  ask,  how  much  have  the  writings  of  Sir  Walter  con- 
tributed to  the  formation  of  correct  principles  of  human 


6Q 

conduct,  and  enforced  the  obligations  of  virtue  ?  To  the 
entertainment  of  the  world  they  have  made  a  large  contri- 
bution. He  has  made  Scotland  classic  ground.  He  has 
converted  her  hills  into  mountains,  her  fresh  ponds  into  mag- 
nificent lakes,  her  rivulets  into  deep,  flomng  rivers.  Every 
thing  he  has  robed  with  the  colors  of  imagination ;  but 
when  you  come  to  look  at  the  reality,  you  are  astonished 
to  find  that  of  all  men,  he  has  furnished  in  his  descrip- 
tions of  men  and  things,  the  most  striking,  mai-vellous  and 
thoughtful  exemplification  of  what  his  brother  poet,  Camp- 
bell says,  in  the  opening  of  his  poem,  on  the  Pleasures  of 
Hope ; 

"  Tis  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view." 

His  characters  are  unreal ;  his  estimate  of  the  obligations 
and  standard  of  virtue,  defective ;  his  exemplifications  of 
principles  in  practice,  imaginary  and  very  rarely  such  as 
any  judicious  father  could  safely  propose  for  the  imitation 
of  his  children.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  there  is  not 
a  living  man  in  the  world,  whose  character  has  been  fash- 
ioned after  the  model  which  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  drawn  of 
the  most  brilliant  conception  which  his  iliind  has  realized 
of  human  excellency.  And  herein  lies  the  marked  clifie- 
rence  between  the  practical  teacher — the  conscientious  in- 
structSr  and  trainer  of  the  young,  and  the  man  whose  con- 
ceptions  of  life  and  its  responsibilities  are  embodied  in  the 
dreams  of  poetry,  and  in  the  thrilling  and  moving  scenes 
depicted  in  the  descriptions  of  the  writers  of  Romance  and 
Fiction. 

Wlien  we  stand  by  the  grave  of  Professor  Mitchell  we 
feel  that  we  are  near  the  ashes  of  one  who  has  labored  and 
striven  conscientiously  in  the  noblest  and  holiest  of  the 
causes  of  humanity.  That  cause  was,  and  is,  and  must  ever 
be,  to  develop  and  strengthen  the  intellectual  powers  in 
alliance  with  efforts  to  cultivate  and  cherish  and  bring 
into   healthy   action   the   moral  affections;  in  a  word  to 


67 

educate  the  head  and  the  heart  at  the  same  time.  IN'ever 
was  there  a  greater  mistake  nor  one  more  injm^ious  to  per- 
sonal and  relative  interests,  to  social  and  puhlic  weal  than 
to  separate  these  and  attempt  to  effect  a  divorce  between  the 
intellectual  and  the  moral  in  man.  What  sort  of  a  creature 
would  a  man  be,  if  he  had  no  heart  ?  'No  heart  to  feel  for 
another's  woe  ;  nor  to  rejoice  with  them  that  rejoice  ;  and 
never  to  weep  with  them  that  weep  ;  to  have  no  word  'of 
encouragement  for  the  desponding ;  no  look  of  compassion 
for  the  suffering;  no  hand  to  feed  the  hungry  or  clothe  the 
naked ;  no  promptings  to  go  on  errands  of  mercy  to  the 
sick  and  dying  ?  Yet  this  is  what  the  presuming  wisdom 
and  arrogant  spirit  of  this  age  has  attempted  in  some  of  the 
highest  and,  in  point  of  mental  furniture,  some  of  the  best 
endowed  institutions  in  our  country. 

With  such  a  system  Professor  Mitchell  held  no  sympa- 
thy. Defective  as  all  institutions  founded  upon  Legisla- 
tive patronage  unquestionably  are,  in  necessary  provision 
for  teaching  Christianity  as  a  system  of  divine  revelation  for 
the  salvation  of  men,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the  petty 
rivalries  and  mean  jealousies  of  sectaries,  who  seem  unable 
to  comprehend  and  embrace  the  enlarged  and  catholic 
spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  who  would  see  every  institution  of 
learning  in  the  land  crumbled  into  ruins  rather  than  not 
have  a  direct  share  in  its  management  and  government, — • 
this  defect  in  moral  training  founded  on  the  recognition  of 
the  great  facts  and  doctrines  of  Christianity,  so  justly  com- 
plained of  by  parents,  and  particularly  by  religious  parents, 
in  the  education  of  their  sons.  Professor  Mitchell,  I 
know,  endeavored  to  supply  by  infusing  the  religious  ele- 
ment, as  much  as  possible,  into  his  instructions  in  the 
lecture  room,  and  more  especially  in  his  conversation 
with  those  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  win  his  perso- 
nal regard.  More  than  forty  years  have  now  elapsed  since 
he  first  entered  the  walls  of  the  North  Carolina  Universi- 


t 


68 

ty,  and  assumed  the  duties  of  the  chair  of  Mathematics. 
I  was  there  then,  an  untaught,  undisciplined  and  unsophis- 
ticated youth.  I  remember  what  a  deep  impression  his 
commanding  form,  his  noble  brow  on  which  mind  seemed 
enthroned,  and  his  dark,  lustrous  eye  made  upon  our  young 
hearts.  Besides  him  there  were  the  President,  the  vene- 
rable Dr.  Caldwell,  Dr.  Hooper,  Professor  of  languages, 
and  two  Tutors,  the  late  Priestly  H.  Mangum,  and  John 
M.  Morehead,  afterwards  Governor  of  the  State.  Profes- 
sor Olmsted,  now  of  Yale,  his  '^Jidus  et  cants  comes " 
added  his  strength  to  the  Academic  Corps,  some  months 
later.  How  many  now  living  and  dead  whose  characters, 
as  developed  in  the  various  departments  of  human  life,  have 
the  precepts  and  example  of  Professor  Mitchell  in  the  last 
forty  years  contributed  more  than  any  other  man's  influ- 
ence to  form  and  develope  ! 

Does  any  one  ask  where  are  the  monuments  of  his  labors  ? 
We  answer  they  will  be  found  among  the  members  of  the 
Cabinet — among  Senators  in  the  Council  Chamber — Rep- 
resentatives in  the  Halls  of  Congress — Governors  of  States 
— Judges  sitting  in  the  highest  places  of  Justice — Legisla- 
tors— Ministers  to  Foreign  Governments — Heralds  of  the 
Cross — Men  of  renown  in  all  the  departments  of  human 
enterprise  —  Lawyers,  Physicians,  Professors,  Schoolmas- 
ters— a  mighty  array  of  talent,  of  learning  and  worth,  the 
influence  of  which  is  felt  through  all  the  land,  and  will  con- 
tinue to  be  felt  while  industry  and  knowledge  shall  be 
honored,  or  gratitude  find  a  name  and  place  of  esteem 
among  men. 

Have  not  the  recorded  observations  of  mankind  given 
the  character  of  an  established  and  admitted  fact  to  the  as- 
sertion that  a  man's  future  usefulness  depends  upon  his 
early  associations  ?  and  that  the  destiny  of  every  human 
being  is  written  upon  his  heart  by  his  Mother  or  by.  his 
Teacher  ?     If  "  the  Boy  is  father  of  the  Man,"  how  much  of 


69 

the  excellency  and  usefulness  of  tliat  manhood  depends  up- 
on the  wisdom,  the  sagacity,  the  care  and  the  skill  of  him 
to  whom  is  entrusted  the  rearing  and  training  of  that  boy! 
Socrates  was  the  teacher  of  Phito  and  of  Aristotle,  the 
briglitest  luminaries  of  the  ancient  heathen  world  !  And 
of  this  last,  Philip  of  Macedon,  the  w^isest  monarch  of  his 
day,  and  father  of  Alexander  the  Great,  is  said  to  have  ex- 
pressed his  high  admiration  by  writing,  that  he  was  not  so 
"thankful  to  the  Gods  for  making  him  a  father,  as  he  w^s 
for  their  giving  him  a  son  in  an  age  when  he  could  have 
Aristotle  for  his  instructor." 

If  the  time  permitted  I  could  tell  you,  by  the  recital  of 
remembered  instances,  how  Professor  Mitchell's  wise  and 
far-reaching  care,  his  ever-present  and  friendly  watchful- 
ness and  parental  solicitude  for  the  student,  manifested 
themselves  in  the  lecture  room,  on  public  occasions,  in  the 
social  circle,  and  in  the  administration  of  discipline.  Eve- 
ry where,  and  in  all  things,  he  acted  as  if  under  an  abiding 
conviction,  that  he  was  forming  the  princij^les  and  char- 
'detev  of  those  to  whom  would  presentl}^  be  committed,  not 
only  their  own  individual,  personal  happiness,  but  the 
guardianship  of  the  great  public  interests  of  the  land,  and 
the  momentous  concerns  of  souls  that  would  live  when  the 
cares  and  turmoil  of  this  world  were  ended.  Thoughts 
dwelling  upon  these  responsibilities  were  ever  present  with 
him,  and  words  of  instruction,  of  advice  and  of  warning,  as 
the  occasion  served,  mingled  themselves  in,  and  if  I  may 
»o  say,  infused  fragrance  to,  all  his  direct  communications 
with  the  young.  I  could  tell  you  how  he  projected  short 
pedestrian  excursions  into  the  surrounding  country  for  the 
benefit  of  his  class,  in  order  that  the}'  might  reduce  the  prin- 
ciples of  science  which  they  had  learned  from  the  book  into 
practice  ;  and  how  his  conversation  always  abounded  with 
striking  and  pleasant  anecdotes,  about  men  of  other  coun- 
tries and  other  times  ;  intended  by  him  not  only  to  relievfes 
6 


70 

the  weariness  of  labor,  but  to  serve  as  striking  illustrations 
of  some  moral  truth  spoken,  or  as  incentives  to  persevering 
effort,  or  to  inspire  a  worthy  emulation.  I  could  tell  you 
how  he  was  ever  ready  to  relieve  the  difficulties  of  the  stu- 
dent, by  patient  efforts  at  explanation  ;  to  unfold  to  him  the 
intricacies  of  mathematical  calculations ;  the  mysteries  of 
science — its  sublime  truths,  the  use  and  the  beauty  of  their 
application — how  he  wrought  for  his  improvem.ent  from 
the  garnished  heavens  where  myriads  upon  myriads  of 
worlds  speak  the  Creator's  glory,  power  and  praise ;  through 
the  rich  and  variegated  fields  which  the  science  of  Botany 
displays,  to  the  wonders  of  Geology  with  its  mysterious 
history  and  revelations,  "  graven  with  an  iron  pen  in  the 
rock  forever;"  and  to  the  marvellous  discoveries  which  the 
microscope  makes  in  the  insect  world  ;  and  from  all  these 
departments  brought  forth  stores  rich  and  abundant,  to  en- 
large and  improve  his  understanding  and  mend  his  heart. — 
A  task  so  grateful  to  me,  so  justto  his  memory,  and  which,  if 
faithfully  performed,  might  be  so  beneficial  to  the  living,  I 
must  leave  to  others  having  more  time  and  better  opportu- 
nity to  do  it  justice. 

"Can  that  man  be  dead, 

Whose  spiritual  influence  is  upon  his  kind  ? 

lie  lives  in  ^.-lory  ;  and  his  speaking  dust 

Has  more  of  life  than  half  its  breathing  moulds.  " 

Miss  Laxdox. 

We  must  hasten  to  the  performance  of  the  melancholy  du- 
ties for  which  we  have  here  met.  His  "record  is  on  high  !" 
His  memory,  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew 
him,  shall  live  till  this  mountain  which  perpetuates  his 
name  shall  perish  in  the  fires  of  the  last  conflagration. 

We  may  pause  a  moment  to  speak  of  his  death.  Its  cir- 
cumstances are  too  well  known  to  you  all  to  make  their  de- 
tail necessary.  It  is  sufficient  to  mention  that  on  the  28th 
day  of  June  1857  he  parted  with  his  son  to  cross  the  moun- 
tain to  Thos.  Wilson's. 


71 

A  storm,  not  an  uncommon  event  in  this  region  at  that 
season  of  the  year,  arose  and  shrouded  the  mountain  in 
thick  darkness.  He  wandered  from  his  way,  and  never 
reached  the  point  of  his  destination.  The  fact  of  his  being 
missed  and  the  consequent  uneasiness  of  his  son  and  daugh- 
ter were  soon  made  known  to  the  hardy  sons  of  this  region  ; 
who,  touched  with  the  genuine  feelings  of  sympathy  and 
humanity  so  characteristic  of  all  people  whose  dwellings 
are  in  proximity  to  Nature's  grandest  and  noblest  works, 
assembled  speedily  and  in  large  numbers  to  begin  the 
work  of  search  for  him  who  was  missing,  and  whose  visits 
to  their  mountain  homes,  and  whose  affability  of  manners, 
simplicity  of  deportment  and  instructive  conversation  had 
gained  for  him  a  sure  lodgment  in  their  respect  and  in  their 
hearts.  It  mav  indicate  the  sava2:e  wildness  of  the  reo^ion 
to  state,  that  this  search  was  continued  for  ten  days  dili- 
gently but  without  success.  At  length,  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  perseverance  and  diligence,  animated  by  affection  and 
led  by  love,  were  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  the  body. — 
His  manly,  breathless  form  was  discovered  in  a  deep,  clear 
basin  of  water  at  the  foot  of  a  precipice  forty  feet  high,  from 
which  he  had  fallen  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  when  none 
but  God  was  ni^h.  His  noble  features  were  not  disfio-ured 
and  not  a  bone  of  him  was  broken.  M^iat  a  death,  my 
hearers  !  probably  without  a  pang — without  consciousness 
of  pain  or  suffering  !  In  the  mysterious  appointment  of 
Heaven,  his  hour  had  come,  and  his  transition  from  the 
mortal  to  the  immortal  state,  was  as  rapid  as  the  ascent 
of  Elijah,  by  a  "chariot  and  horses  of  fire.  "  We  know 
not  of  the  communings  held  with  his  own  heart,  in  the 
loneliness  of  that  last  walk  upon  the  mountains,  while  the 
storm-cloud  wrapped  its  folds  of  darkness  around  him,  and 
the  hoarse  thunder  uttered  its  loud  dirge  to  herald  the 
passage  of  his  spirit  from  the  cares  and  toils  of  a  weary 
world,  to  the  rest  and  peace  of  the  better  land.      Did  in- 


72 

stinctive  fears  alarm  him,  as  all  unconscious  of  danger  in 
his  path,  he  approached  the  fatal  ledge  of  the  precipice  ? — 
We  know  not.  Did  any  exclamation  burst  from  his  lips, 
at  the  instant  he  became  sensible  of  falling  from  its  dizzy 
height?  God  only  knoweth.  We  only  know  that  his  life 
had  been  such  as  to  give  to  all  who  knew  and  loved  him, 
the  precious  consolation  of  hope  in  his  death.  We  only 
know  that  his  name  will  hereafter  be  encircled  with  the 
same  halo  that  sheds  its  light  upon  the  names  of  the  Frank- 
lins— the  Andersons  and  the  Kanes,  who  perished  in  pros- 
ecuting their  labors  in  the  cause  of  science — in  making 
known  the  wonders  of  God's  works,  and  the  fruits  of  whose 
efforts  and  cares  were  meekly  and  modestly  laid  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross.  I  hold  up  the  example  of  his  life  as  embody- 
ing the  elements  of  precious  consolation  to  his  surviving 
family  and  friends ;  of  animating  encouragement  to  the 
young,  and  of  solemn  warning  to  the  living  ;  admonishing 
them  to  remember,  by  a  catastrophe  never  to  be  forgotten, 
that  "in  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death. ' '  I  hold  it  up  to  his 
children,  as  the  strongest  incentive  that  can  nerve  the  heart 
by  sweet  memories  of  the  dead,  to  walk  as  he  walked,  in 
virtue's  ways.  I  take  it  to  his  now  desolate  hearth-stone — 
to  his  widowed  home,  and  unfolding  there  a  life  and  con- 
versation, all  of  which  are  treasured  up  in  the  deepest  re- 
cesses of  the  soul,  I  would  say  to  the  bruised  spirit,  in 
remembrance  of  the  rich  mercies  of  the  past,  be  comforted, 
by  all  the  kindling  hopes  of  the  future.  Let  the  holy  re- 
collections of  years  gone — the  path  of  life's  pilgrimage,  il- 
luminated by  the  light  which  shone  from  a  faith  illustrat- 
ed by  good  works — throw  brightness  over  his  grave  ;  con- 
i^ecrate  his  memory;  and  spread  the  hue  of  Heaven's  own 
gladness  over  the  bereaved  and  rilled  bosom,  in  contempla- 
ting the  assurance  of  a  happy  re-union  beyond  the  tomb. 

As  the  traveller  wends  his  weary  way  along  the  journey 
of  life,  his  eye,  from  many  a  distant  point  in  his  road,  will 


73 

catch  a  glimpse  of  this  lofty  eminence,  rising  heavenward, 
like  a  great  beacon-light  over  the  waste  of  mortality  ;  and 
its  name  repeated  by  men  who  will  ever  be  found  dwelling 
under  its  shadow,  will  remind  him  that  here  repose  the 
ashes  of  a  great  and  a  good  man.  In  this  palace  of  nature 
— this  vast  cathedral  raised  by  God's  hand,  where  swift 
winged  winds  mingle  their  voices  with  the  dread  sounds  of 
Heaven's  thunder,  we  leave  him — leave  him — 

"  Amid  the  trophies  of  Jehovah's  power 
And  feel  and  own,  in  calm  and  solemn  mood, 
That,  ^tis  man's  highest  glory,  fo  be  good.  " 


/ 


A  VINDICATION 


OF  THE  PROPRIETY  OF  GIVING  THE  NAME  "MT.  MITCHELL," 


TO  THE  HIGHEST  PEAK  OF  "BLACK  MOUNTAIN':" 


AN  ADDRESS, 


DELIVERED  16TH  JUNE,  1858, 


BY 


HON.  DAYID  L.  S¥AIN,  LL.  D, 

PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    N.    C. 


CHAPEL  HILL : 
PUBLISHED  BY  J.  M.  HENDERSON. 

PRINTER   TO   THE  UNIVERSITY. 

1858. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  arrival  of  Professor  Charles  Phillips  had  been  anxiously  expect- 
ed until  the  close  of  the  ceremonies.  He  was,  however,  confined  at  home 
by  severe  illness.  At  the  conclusion  of  Bishop  Otey's  address,  and  before 
the  coffin  was  lowered  into  the  grave  President  Swain  remarked  that  the 
duty  of  representing  the  University  in  these  ceremonies  had  most  unex- 
pectedly devolved  upon  him.  That  the  audience  were  aware,  that  his 
friend  and  colleague,  Professor  Phillips,  had  carefully  investigated  the 
points  of  controversy  which  had  recently  arisen  with  respect  to  the  origi- 
nal discovery  of  this  mountain  height.  To  the  Professor's  published  pa- 
pers he  would  refer  for  a  more  extended  vindication  of  Dr.  Mitchell's 
fame  than  was  necessary  to  his  purpose.* 

President  Swain  said  that  in  relation  to  this  question,  he  was  very  loth 
to  indulge  himself  in  a  statement  even  of  facts  within  his  own  knowledge,  or 
susceptible  of  direct  proof,  by  persons  then  present  whose  truthfulness  no  one 
would  question.  That  his  reluctance  arose  not  merely  from  a  consciousness 
of  his  inability  to  do  the  full  justice  to  the  subject,  anticipated  from  Pro- 
fessor Phillips  ;  but  from  a  painful  apprehension,  that  anything  he  should 
say  might  serve  only  to  mar  the  effect  of  the  most  touching  and  interest- 
ing exhibition  of  filial  piety  he  had  ever  witnessed.  That  the  venerable 
Prelate  to  whom  they  had  all  listened  with  so  much  delight,  had  at  an  un- 
reasonably short  notice,  in  the  midst  of  pressing  engagements,  harassing 
anxieties  and  cares,  left  the  sick-bed  of  a  near  relative,  and  travelled  six 
hundred  miles  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Alleghany,  to  pay  a  tribute 
of  respect  and  afi'ection  at  the  grave  of  an  instructor,  with  whom  his  inter- 
course began  quite  forty  years  ago.  This  simple  incident  is  all  the  evi- 
dence that  need  be  required  of  the  true  character  of  the  living  and  the 
dead.  It  is  an  incident,  with  the  attendant  circumstances,  such  as  has 
never  occurred  before  and  will  never  occur  again.  The  moral  sublime  is 
in  beautiful  harmony  with  the  surrounding  scenery.  He  who  of  the  race 
of  men  first  stood  in  life,  is  the  first  to  find  repose,  in  death,  on  the  highest 
ascertained  elevation  on  the  continent,  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Of  the  lat- 
ter distinction,  no  one  can  divest  him.  Of  his  right  to  the  former,  the  evi- 
dence is  believed  to  be  scarcely  less  clear  and  conclusive. 

After  referring  to  the  fact  that  he  was  a  native  of  the  County  of  Bun- 
combe, during  five  years  one  of  their  Representatives  in  the  General  As- 

*See  University  Magazine  for  March  1858,  pp.  293-318. 


sembly,  a  resident  of  Asheville  until  1831,  and  a  citizen  until  his  removal 
to  the  University  in  1836,  President  Swain  remarked,  that  to  the  deceas- 
ed he  stood  in  a  relation  no  less  intimate  and  endearing.  He  was  his  pu- 
pil in  1822,  had  been  a  Trustee  of  the  University  since  1831,  and  at  the 
head  of  the  Institution  since  1835.  His  friends  Bishop  Otey  and  Dr. 
Wright,  were  class-mates,  and  their  acquaintance  commenced  at  an  earlier 
period,  they  had  known  him  longer,  but  there  was  no  man  living  who 
knew  him  as  well  as  he.  For  several  years  previous  to,  and  during  the 
entire  period  of  President  Swain's  connection  with  the  University,  Dr. 
Mitchell  was  the  Senior  Professor.  More  than  twenty  years  of  daily  in- 
tercourse afforded  the  fullest  and  fairest  opportunity  to  form  a  correct 
opinion  of  his  true  character.  He  was  a  man  of  no  ordinary  ability,  of 
very  unusual  attainments  in  literature  and  science,  of  indomitable  perse- 
verance, untiring  industry  and  unflinching  courage. 

It  was  natural  that  the  sudden  death  of  such  a  man  should  produce  a 
deep  sensation  in  any  community  of  which  he  was  a  member.  But  there 
was  a  kindness  of  heart  and  amenity  of  manner,  that  had  endeared  Dr. 
Mitchell  to  all  within  the  range  of  hib  associations ;  and  the  manifestations 
of  grief  by  the  Faculty,  the  Students,  and  the  community,  were  heart-felt, 
and  universal.  The  rich  and  the  poor,  the  bond  as  well  as  the  free,  men 
women  and  children,  united  in  the  award  of  funeral  honors  to  an  extent 
without  a  parallel,  in  the  history  of  Chapel  Hill. 

Two  days  after  the  observance  of  the  ceremonies  upon  the  mountain,  the 
addresses  of  Bishop  Otey  and  President  Swain,  at  the  earnest  request  of 
the  citizens  of  Asheville,  were  repeated  at  the  Court  House,  to  a  large 
auditory.  The  subjoined  narrative,  is  more  nearly  a  report  of  the  remarks 
of  President  Swain  upon  the  latter,  than  upon  the  former  occasion. 
(78) 


ADDRESS. 


In  the  year  1825,  in  tlie  city  of  Raleigli,  while  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  from  the  County  of  Buncombe,  I  was  in« 
troduced  to  the  late  John  C.  Calhoun,  then  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States.  After  a  playful  allusion  to  my  height, 
which  he  said  corresponded  with  his  own  and  that  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  he  remarked  that  we  could  also  congrat^ 
ulate  ourselves  on  the  circumstance,  that  we  resided  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  highest  mountain  on  the  continent,, 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  suggestion  took  me  entirely  by  surprise,  and  I  in^ 
quired  whether  the  fact  had  been  ascertained.  He  replied, 
not  by  measurement,  but  that  a  very  slight  examination  of 
the  map  of  the  United  States,  would  satisfy  me  it  was 
so.  That  I  would  find  among  the  mountains  of  Bun- 
combe, the  head-springs  of  one  of  the  great  tributaries 
of  the  Mississippi,  flowing  into  the  gulf  of  Mexico  ;  of  the 
Kenhawa,  entering  the  Ohio  ;  and  of  the  Santee  and  Pee- 
dee,  emptying  into  the  Atlantic.  That  these  were  the 
longest  rivers  in  the  United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains,  finding  their  way  in  opposite  directions  to  the  ocean, 
and  that  the  point  of  greatest  elevation,  must  be  at  their 
sources. 

In  June,  1830,  in  company  with  the  late  Governor  Owen, 
and  other  members  of  the  Board  of  Internal  Improvements 
of  the  State,  I  descended  the  Cape  Fear  river  from  Haywood 
to  Fayetteville.  Professor  Mitchell  of  the  University^ 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  for  a  geo- 


80 

logical  excursion  and  accompanied  us.  In  the  course  of 
familiar  conversation,  I  referred  to  the  conjecture  of  Mr. 
Oalhoun,  in  relation  to  the  height  of  our  "Western  Moun- 
tains. He  intimated  then,  or  at  a  subsequent  interview, 
his  concurrence  in  opinion  with  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  men- 
tioned that  the  distinguished  naturalists,  the  elder  and 
younger  Michaux,  had  arrived  at  the  same  conclusion  about 
the  beginning  of  the  century,  from  very  different  data. — 
They  had  found  in  the  Black  Mountain,  trees  and  other 
specimens  of  Alpine  growth,  that  they  had  observed  no 
where  else  South  of  Canada. 

In  the  summer  of  1835,  Dr.  Mitchell  made  his  first  at- 
tempt to  verify  by  barometrical  measurement,  the  accura- 
cy of  the  opinions  expressed  by  these  gentlemen.  His  ex- 
ploration was  laborious,  careful  and  patient.  A  subse- 
quent explorer  remarks  '^  that  at  the  time  Dr.  Mitchell  be- 
gan his  observations,  with  regard  to  the  height  of  the  Black 
Mountain,  it  was  much  more  inaccessible  than  it  has  since 
become,  by  reason  of  the  progress  of  the  settlements  around 
its  base,  so  that  he  was  liable  to  be  misled,  and  thwarted, 
by  unforseen  obstacles,  in  his  efforts  to  reach  particular 
l^arts  of  the  chain,  and  when  he  did  attain  some  jDoint  at 
the  top  of  the  ridge,  nature  was  too  much  exhausted  to  al- 
low more  than  one  observation,  as  to  the  immediate  locali- 
ty. "  The  accuracy  of  this  statement  will  be  most  clearly 
perceived  and  readily  admitted,  by  those  most  familiar 
■with  the  character  of  this  mountainous  region,  then  and 
now.  It  is  impossible  for  a  stranger  to  form  a  clear  con- 
conception  of  the  obstacles  that  were  encountered  and  the 
difficulties  overcome. 

Dr.  Mitchell's  account  of  this  exploration  was  published 
in  due  time,  and  attracted  very  general  attention  at  home 
and  abroad.  There  are  few,  even  of  the  most  obscure  vil- 
lage newspapers  of  that  day,  in  which  notices  of  it  may  not 
be  found.     It  was  the  first  authoritative  annunciation,  that 


81 

the  summit  of  the  Bhick  Mountain  in  Xorth  Carolina,  was 
higher  than  that  of  the  White  mountains  in  ^ew  Hamp- 
shire, and  the  highest  in  the  United  States  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  accuracy  of  the  measurement  was  at  first 
controverted,  but  subsequently  yielded  by  writers  in  Silli- 
man's  American  Journal  of  Science,  and  has  long  since 
ceased  to  be  the  subject  of  doubt. 

The  question  that  remains  to  be  settled  is  of  less  impor- 
tance, but  it  is  believed,  that  its  proper  and  truthful  solu- 
tion, is  no  less  favorable  to  the  deceased  Professor's  claim 
to  accuracy  as  a  man  of  science — was  the  pinnacle  measur- 
ed by  Dr.  Mitchell  in  1835,  the  highest  peak  of  the  Black 
Mountain  ? 

In  1839,  an  agent  of  the  publishers  of  Smith's  Geogra- 
phy and  Atlas,  called  upon  me  at  the  University,  and  re- 
quested an  examination  of  the  work  and  an  opinion  of  its 
merits.  On  an  intimation  that  it  was  not  very  accurate  in 
relation  to  the  Southern  States,  and  especially  erroneous  in 
various  instances  with  respect  to  ^orth  Carolina,  he  re- 
quested me  to  revise  it  at  my  leisure,  and  transmit  a  correc- 
ted copy  to  the  publishers.  I  complied.  A  copy  of  this 
book  is  now  before  me,  and  on  page  138,  in  the  section  de- 
scriptive of  Xorth  Carolina  is  the  following  paragraph  : — 
"  Mount  Mitchell  in  this  State,  has  been  ascertained  to  be 
the  highest  point  of  land  in  the  United  States,  east  of  tlie 
Rock}^  Mountains." 

At  the  time  I  revised  the  Geography  and  Atlas,  I  re- 
quested Dr.  Mitchell,  to  mark  upon  the  map  of  Xorth 
Carolina,  the  highest  point  of  elevation  in  the  Black  Moun- 
tain range.  "  He  did  so,  and  I  wrote  against  it  "  Mount 
Mitchell."  A  copy  of  this  corrected  map  "  entered  ac- 
cording to  an  Act  of  Congress  in  the  jenr  1839,  by  Daniel 
Burgess,  in  the  Clerks  office  in  the  District  of  Connecticut," 
is  now  in  my  possession.  I  have  examined  it  carefully  and 
with  all  the  aid  to  be  obtained  from  Cook's  map  of  the  State, 


82 

and  the  knowledge  derived  from  a  recent  \dsit  to  tlie  moun- 
tain, I  am  by  no  means  certain,  tliat  if  tlie  maps  were  sub- 
mitted to  me  a  second  time  time  for  revision,  I  could  make 
a  nearer  approximation  to  accuracy  in  tbe  delineation  of 
the  highest  peak,  than  did  Dr.  Mitchell  in  1839. 

The  following  Book  IN'otice  is  copied  from  the  Raleigh 
Register  of  June  5th,  1840.  The  replies  to  the  suggestion 
of  a  name  for  the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain,  ap- 
peared in  the  Higliland  Messenger,  the  first  newspaper  that 
was  established  west  of  the  Blue  Eidge. 

The  Rev.  D.  R.  Morally,  D.  D.,  extensively  and  fa- 
vorably known  as  the  Editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  one  of  the  official  organs  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  South,  was  at  that  time  a  citizen  of 
Aslieville,  and  the  Editor  of  the  Highland  Messenger.  It 
is  perhaps  proper  to  state  that  the  article  copied  from  the 
Raleigh  Register,  was  written  by  me,  and  that  I  am  the 
friend  alluded  to  in  the  closing  editorial  of  the  Messenger. 
The  name  of  Mount  Mitchell  as  "an  appellative"  of  the 
highest  simimit  east  of  the  Mississippi  had  its  origin  in 
these  publications. 

[From  the  Raleigh  Register,  June  5th,  1840.] 
smith's   GEOaRAPHY   AND    ATLAS. 

We  took  occasion,  some  weeks  since,  to  direct  attention  to  the  very  neat 
and  excellent  Geography  of  S.  Augustus  Mitchell,  and  the  admirable  At- 
las, by  which  it  is  accompanied.  We  have  no  disposition,  in  noticing  the 
work  placed  at  the  head  of  this  article,  to  abate  in  the  slightest  degree  the 
high  commendation  we  bestowed  upon  the  labors  of  Mr.  Mitchell. 

It  is  due  to  Mr.  Smith,  however,  to  say,  that  a  very  vslight  inspection  of 
his  book  will  satisfy  any  one,  that  it  will  prove  a  dangerous  competitor  to 
the  whole  tribe  of  candidates  for  patronage  in  this  department. 

The  Geography  is  well  written  and  what  is  quite  as  important,  is  very 
accurate  in  its  details,  geographical  and  statistical.  Like  other  School 
Books  by  the  same  author,  it  is  upon  the  productive  system  and  well  adap- 
ted to  the  comprehension  of  the  younger  class  of  learners.  Among  the 
pictorial  embelishments,  is  a  good  representation  of  our  new  State  House 

I, 


83 

and  of  the  armorial  device  of  the  State  copied  from  the  Great  Seal.  In  the 
description  of  the  State,  Mount  Mitchell  is  stated  to  be  the  highest  point 
of  land  in  the  United  States,  east  ©f  the  Rocky  Mountains.  We  are  grati- 
fied to  see  the  reputation  of  the  Senior  Professor  in  our  University  estab- 
lished upon  so  durable,  firm  and  elevated  a  basis. 

The  mechanical  execution  of  the  book  however,  is  decidedly  inferior  to 
Mitchell's ;  but  such  is  not  the  case  vrith  the  Atlas,  vrhich  is  the  neatest 
and  most  accurate  collection  of  maps  for  the  use  of  Schools,  vrhich  has 
fallen  under  our  observation.  The  new  counties,  Henderson  and  Cherokee, 
created  by  our  last  General  Assembly,  are  delineated  on  the  map  of  the 
State. 

[From  the  Highland  Messenger,  .June  12,  1840.] 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Smith,  the  geographer,  and  the  editor  of  the  Raleigh 
Register,  have  taken  "  the  responsibility  "  to  inform  "  the  whole  world," 
that  the  Black  Mountain  in  this  County,  is  hereafter  and  forever  to  be 
called  Mount  Mitchell,  Now,  inasmuch  as  this  has  been  done  without 
once  deigning  to  consult  the  good  people  of  Buncombe,  whose  authority  is 
always  higher,  than  any  powers  whatever  at  Haleigh  (as  they  are  some- 
thing like  a  mile  above  them,)  we  hereby  give  notice  to  all  whom  it  may 
concern,  and  to  all  whom  it  may  not  concern,  that  Black  Mountain  is  to 
be  Black  Mountain  as  long  as  Buncombe  remains  Buncombe.  If  Mr. 
Smith  will  publish  another  edition  of  his  work,  and  consent  to  call  Bun- 
combe, Mount  Smith,  then  we  will  consent  to  call  the  Black  Mountain 
Mount  Mitchell. 

[From  the  Highland  Messenger,  June  19.  1840  ] 

smith's  geography. 

It  has  been  suggested  to  us  that  our  remarks  last  week  in  reference  to 
the  change  of  the  name  of  the  Black  Mountain,  were  calculated  to  do  in- 
justice to  the  individual,  to  perpetuate  whose  memory  the  change  of  the 
name  had  been  proposed.  It  was  certainly  the  farthest  from  our  intention 
to  do  injustice  to  any  one,  and  particularly  to  detract  in  the  smallest  pos- 
sible degree  from  the  well  earned,  and  well  deserved  reputation  of  Profes- 
sor Mitchell.  We  penned  the  article  in  question,  under  the  impression 
that  Mr.  Smith  had  applied  the  name  of  Mount  Mitchell,  to  the  whole 
mountain  range,  so  well  known  in  this  region  as  the  Black  Mountain. — 
The  latter  appellative  has  its  foundation  in  nature,  and  is  too  old  and  too 
well  established  to  justify  any  attempt  at  substitution.  The  thought  would 
be  preposterous.  We  are  perfectly  willing  to  concede  the  name  of  Mount 
Mitchell  to  that  particular  point  on  the  Black  Mountain,  which  Professor 
Mitchell,  after  a  degree  of  labor  and  expense,  which  none  other  than  a 


84 

genuine  devotee  of  science  would  have  incurred,  demonstrated  to  be  the 
most  elevated  point  of  measured  land  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  We 
say  measured  land,  because  we  have  long  believed,  and  still  believe  that 
there  is  one,  if  not  two  points,  in  the  same  range  of  mountains  higher  than 
that  one  measured  by  Prijfessor  Mitchell,  from  forty  to  sixty  miles  west  of 
the  Black  Mountain. 

If  Mr.  Smith  will,  in  the  next  edition  of  his  work,  use  language  a  little 
more  precise  than  in  his  last,  we  will  concede  to  him  the  right  to  pro- 
nounce Mount  Mitchell  one  of  the  peaks  of  the  Black  Mountain  to  be  6,476 
feet  in  height,  and  the  most  elevated  summit  that  has  been  as  yet  correct- 
ly measured  in  the  United  States.  In  reference  to  this  particular  peak, 
none  wijl  more  readily  or  cheerfully  unite  in  giving  it  the  appellation  of 
Mount  Mitchell  than  we.  It  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  wliat  the  wor- 
thy Professor  is  entitled  to,  as  discovery  is  the  foundation  of  right  all  over 
the  world  to  regions  previously  unknown,  and  a  great  proportion  of  our 
geographical  nomenclature  will  shoAv  that  it  frequently  gives  title  as  well 
as  right.  We  shall,  at  a  leisure  hour,  recur  to  this  subject,  and  most  re- 
spectfully invite  the  attention  of  Professor  Mitchell,  and  other  scientific 
gentlemen  to  the  peaks,  which,  in  our  opinion,  are  much  higher  than  those 
already  measured. 

In  the  meantime,  an  esteemed  friend  has  kindly  promised  to  procure 
and  transmit  to  us  for  publication  the  interesting  article  of  Professor 
Mitchell,  on  this  subject,  originally  published  in  the  TtaJeifih  Register,  and 
aubsequently  transferred  to  the  "  American  jTournal  of  Science,*'  conducted 
by  Professor  Silliman. 

During  a  visit  to  Aslieville  in  tlie  summer  of  1843,  I 
found  tlie  half  of  a  large  tract  of  land  bounded  for  several 
miles  bj  the  extreme  height  of  the  Black  Mountain,  for 
sale,  and  more  for  the  purpose  of  becoming,  in  connection 
mth  my  friend  Nicholas  W.  TVoodfin,  Esq.,  a  proprietor  of 
Mount  Mitchell,  than  for  any  other  reason,  I  purchased 
the  moiety  owned  by  W.  B.  Westall.  Two  years  after- 
wards, in  June  1845,  the  tract  was  surveyed  by  jS'ehemiah 
Blackstock,  Esq.  His  son  Robe-i:  Y.  Blackstock,  was 
marker,  the  late  James  P.  Hardy,  a  member  of  the  Palmet- 
to Regiment  who  died  a  soldier's  death  in  Mexico,  and  W. 
F.  Angel  were  the  chain  bearers. 

On  Wednesday  the  16th  June,  in  company  with  Bishop 


85 

Otey  and  many  others,  I  took  part  in  the  funeral  ceremo- 
nies, at  the  re-interment  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  on 
the  highest  peak  of  the  Black  Mountain.  Among  the  per- 
sons present  were  my  old  friend  William  Wilson,  whom  I 
had  not  seen  for  many  years,  his  cousin,  Thomas  Wilson, 
the  well  known  guide  to  the  Black  Mountain,  who  was  the 
first  to  discover  the  body  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  in  the  pool,  at 
the  bottom  of  the  Falls  which  bear  the  Doctor's  name,  and 
ISTathaniel  Allen,  the  son  of  Adoniram  Allen.  The  two 
latter  are  comparatively  young  men,  and  were  children 
when  I  ceased  to  be  a  resident  of  Asheville. 

Bishop  Otey  and  myself  examined  each  of  them  careful- 
ly and  minutely  in  relation  to  the  leading  facts  connected 
with  Dr.  Mitchell's  explorations  of  the  Black  Mountain, 
and  the  fatal  catastrophe  which  terminated  his  existence. 
William  Wilson  stated,  that  he  was  never  on  the  spot, 
where  we  then  stood,  until  the  Summer  of  1835,  that  then 
in  company  with  his  friend  and  neighbor  Adoniram  Allen, 
deceased,'  he  went  there  as  the  guide  of  Dr.  Mitchell.  He 
entered  into  a  detail  of  the  leading  incidents  connected  with 
the  difficult  and  laborious  ascent  of  the  mountain,  pointed 
out  the  route  and  referred  to  the  most  remarkable  locali- 
ties and  objects,  which  then  presented  themselves  on  the 
way.  He  stated  that  after  the  exploration  of  1835,  he  had 
never  been  on  the  top  of  this  mountain  until  some  time 
subsequent  to  Dr.  Mitchell's  death ;  when,  hearing  that  a 
controversy  had  arisen  with  respect  to  the  pinacle  then 
measured,  he  determined,  old  and  feeble  as  he  was,  to  as- 
cend it  again,  and  had  done  so.  He  said  that  he  recog- 
nized, as  he  went  up  from  point  to  point,  the  remarkable 
places  which  had  attracted  his  attention  when  he  climbed 
it  with  Dr.  Mitchell.  He  had  now  gone  over  the  same 
route  the  third  time,  and  entertained  no  doubt  of  the  accu- 
racy of  his  recollections.  There  is  probably  no  one,  whose 
course   of  life  and   long  familiarity   with   this   range   of 


86 

mountains,  entitle  his  statements  in  relation  to  it  to  more 

implicit   confidence. 

He  referred  repeatedly  to  young  Mr.  Allen,  for  confirm- 
atory statements,  in  relation  to  the  line  and  manner  of  as- 
cent, which  he  had  heard  from  his  father,  the  late  Adoni- 
ram  Allen,  and  was  corroborated  by  him  throughout. 

Mr.  Thomas  Wilson  and  Mr.  Allen  united  with  the  old 
gentleman  in  the  statement  that  this  was  the  only  peak, 
known  during  many  years  to  the  citizens  of  Yancey,  as 
Mount  Mitchell  ;  and  that  until  recently  they  had  never 
heard  the  name  applied  to  any  other  pinacle. 

Mr.  William  Wilson  mentioned  in  the  course  of  his  re- 
marks, that  during  the  time  they  were  on  the  mountain, 
Dr.  Mitchell  climbed  the  highest  Balsam  he  could  find,  cut 
away  the  limbs  near  the  top  of  the  tree,  and  after  repeated 
observations  with  the  instrument  he  carried  with  him  for 
the  purpose,  said  that  the  peak  on  which  they  were,  was 
the  highest  of  the  range.  I  examined  the  ttee  to  which 
Mr.  Wilson  pointed  as  the  one,  or  near  the  one,  which  Dr. 
Mitchell  climbed,  and  found  the  initials  R.  V.  B.,  J.  P.  H., 
plainly  carved  in  the  bark.  It  stands  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  newly-made  grave  of  Dr.  Mitchell. 

On  my  return  to  Asheville,  two  days  after  parting  with 
Mr.  Wilson,  I  met  very  unexpectedly  with  Mr.  Robert  V. 
Blackstock,  whom  I  did  not  recollect  to  have  seen  before, 
but  who,  I  am  glad  to  hear,  is  worthy  of  his  lineage.  With 
his  father,  i^ehemiah  Blackstock,  Esq.,  well  known  as  an 
accurate  surveyor,  a  skillful  woodman,  and  a  man  of  intel- 
ligence and  integrity,  my  acquaintance  began  in  my  early 
boyhood.  The  young  man,  on  an  intimation  of  my  desire 
to  see  his  father,  and  examine  the  plat  made  for  me  in 
1845,  informed  me  that  it  was  in  Asheville,  and  that  he 
could  probably  supply  the  information  I  desired  in  relation 
to  it.  He  obtained  it  immediately.  Directing  my  atten- 
tion to  the  beginning  corner,  he  traced  the  line  from  point 


87 

to  point,  until  it  reached  the  extreme  height  where  Dr.  M. 
was  buried,  and  the  marked  corner  tree  which  Mr.  Wilson 
had  shewn  me,  standing  within  a  few  feet  of  the  grave. — 
The  following  entries,  copied  from  the  plat,  require  no  ex- 
planation, for  those  familiar  with  such  muniments  of  title. 
"Mitchell's  highest  point,  Balsam,  E.  Y.  B.,  J.  P.  H."— 
Here  Mr.  Blackstock  remarked  that  at  the  time  he  cut  his 
initials  upon  that  Balsam,  he  climbed  either  that  tree,  or 
one  standing  near  it,  in  order  to  obtain  a  more  command- 
ing view  of  the  mountain  scenery,  and  that  when  near  the 
top,  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  limbs  had  been  trimmed 
away,  and  called  out  to  his  companions  below  : — "some  one 
has  been  here  before  us."  Mr.  B.  was  not  on  the  moun- 
tain, when  the  funeral  ceremonies  took  place,  and  had,  at 
the  time  his  statement  was  made,  no  knowledge  of  what 
had  occurred  between  Mr.  Wilson  and  myself. 

Mr.  William  D.  Cooke's  map  of  the  State  was  published 
in  1847.  It  is,  in  most  respects,  greatly  superior  to  any 
previous  attempt  at  a  correct  topographical  representation 
of  INTorth  Carolina.  He  had  access  to  such  surveys  of  roads 
and  rivers,  as  had  been  made  with  a  view  to  the  internal  im- 
provement of  the  State,  and  preserved  in  the  public  offices. 
No  suiweys  were  made  at  the  public  expense  to  facilitate 
his  labours,  and  he  received  no  assistance  from  the  public 
treasury.  The  enterprise  was  arduous,  expensive  and  haz- 
ardous ;  and,  under  the  circumstances,  accomplished  in  a 
manner  highly  creditable  to  his  industry,  liberality  and 
skill.  There  was  no  public  survey  to  guide  him  in  his  at- 
tempt to  delineate  this  mountain  range ;  but  there  is  no 
evidence  of  any  effort  having  been  made  to  avail  himself  of 
the  best  private  materials,  which  might  have  rewarded 
proper  research. 

To  attempt  "to  remove  an  ancient  landmark,"  is  both  a 
private  and  a  public  wrong.  To  transfer  the  name  of  the 
discoverer   of  the  interesting  geographical  fact,   that  the 


88 

Black  is  the  highest  mountain  on  the  continent,  east  of  the 
Mississippi, .  from  the  point  designated  by  Smith  in  1839, 
and  by  Blackstock  in  1845,  and  place  it  beneath  the  names 
of  a  series  of  persons  who  in  1855  or  subsequently,  when 
settlements  had  encroached  upon  the  base,  and  paths  had 
been  opened  to  the  summit,  with  published  data  as  a  guide 
for  computation,  may  have  successively  measured  a  loftier 
peak  than  their  predecessors,  is  as  inconsiderate  as  it  is 
unjust. 

Mr.  Cooke  cannot  suppose  that  the  point  designated  by 
him  as  "  Mount  Mitchell,"  in  1855,  and  by  Blackstock  as 
the  "Party  Knob  "  in  1845,  is  the  summit  that  was  meas- 
ured by  Dr.  Mitchell  in  1835.  It  is  impossible  for  any  one 
to  compare  Smith's  map  and  Blackstock's  plat  with  Cooke's 
map,  and  not  perceive  that  it  cannot  be.  The  "Party  Knob* ' 
rises  near  the  dividing  line  between  Buncombe  and  Yan- 
cey. "  Mount  Mitchell,"  as  delineated  by  Smith  and  Black- 
stock,  is  in  Yancey  county,  east  of  south  from  Burnsville, 
and  some  four  miles  north  of  the  Buncombe  line. 

Mr.  Cooke  may  erase  "Mount  Mitchell"  from  his  map, 
if  he  chooses  to  do  so — the  continent  does  not  bear  the 
name  of  its  discoverer — but  he  will  not  be  permitted  to  per- 
petrate a  double  wrong,  by  placing  the  name  of  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell where  neither  the  Doctor,  nor  any  friend  of  his,  ever  de- 
sired to  see  it. 


O.^ 


